None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project will serve the dual purposes of: (i) evaluating the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a practical exercise intervention on stress among an underrepresented but ‘at-risk’ population in a ‘real world’ setting, and (ii) advancing knowledge regarding the mechanisms of the ‘exercise effect’ on youth mental health. The project will utilize a 3-arm parallel-group pilot randomised controlled trial, with a ‘usual practice’ (i.e., no exercise) control group, a light-intensity exercise group (EG1 – walking/stretching activities, <60% of heart rate maximum [HRmax]) and a moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise group (EG2 – circuit/interval training fitness activities, 65-90% HRmax). Participants randomised to the experimental conditions will engage in 2 x 30 minute exercise sessions per week at school. Assessments for the primary outcome (i.e., salivary cortisol reactivity to acute psychosocial stress) and secondary outcomes (perceived stress, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, psychological distress) will be assessed at baseline, and again following a 6-week intervention. We hypothesize that compared with the control group, stress-reactivity at posttest will be significantly lower among adolescents in the vigorous physical activity group. No significant differences will be found between the control and light intensity physical activity groups. This research will have direct implications for educational policy in Australia, which could be made more ‘activity promoting’ during the senior years, and may also be used to inform the development of intervention programs targeting senior students' academic achievement and well-being.
Interventions
The aim of the STRESSED study is to examine chronic effects of physical activity on stress reactivity. Participants allocated to one of the intervention groups will engage in 2 x 30 minute school-based exercise sessions per week over the 6-week study period. Exercise sessions will be delivered by an external fitness instructor at the study school. The exercise sessions will not disrupt scheduled academic lessons and will therefore be offered mornings before school, during recess or lunch time, o
The aim of the STRESSED study is to examine chronic effects of physical activity on stress reactivity. Participants allocated to one of the intervention groups will engage in 2 x 30 minute school-based exercise sessions per week over the 6-week study period. Exercise sessions will be delivered by an external fitness instructor at the study school. The exercise sessions will not disrupt scheduled academic lessons and will therefore be offered mornings before school, during recess or lunch time, or afternoons after class. Participants will be randomised to a non-exercise/usual care control condition, or one of the following exercise interventions: (i) Light-intensity physical activity: Participants randomly allocated to this group will engage in light-intensity exercises (e.g., walking, stretching activities), corresponding to < 60% of age-predicted maximum heart-rate (ii) Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity: Participants randomly allocated to this group will engage in Moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercises (e.g., group-based fitness activities, including aerobic [running on the spot] and body weight resistance [push-ups, squats] exercises), corresponding to 65-90% of age-predicted maximum heart rate Session attendance will be captured using an attendance log completed at the commencement of each session by the instructor.
Sponsors
Jordan Smith
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
15 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Study participants must be in Grade 11 at the study school.
Exclusion criteria
Unable to participate in physical activity
Outcome results
None listed