Trends in Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors in Incarcerated Adolescent Boys During a Sports, Play, and Recreation for Kids Program

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the trends in total and segmented sedentary and physical activity behaviors during a Sports, Play, and Recreation for Kids (SPARK) program in incarcerated adolescent boys. Design: Longitudinal trend analysis. Setting: Two juvenile justice facilities. Subjects: Eighty-six adolescent boys (mean age = 17.1 ± 1.0 years). Intervention: Sports, Play, and Recreation for Kids implemented over 36 weeks. Measures: Sedentary times and physical activity were examined at baseline and at 3 follow-up time points at 12, 24, and 36 weeks after SPARK implementation. Physical activity was assessed using the percentage of accelerometer wear time within each segment for sedentary (%SED) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (%MVPA). Analysis: Trends in %SED and %MVPA were assessed using 2 × 4 doubly multivariate analysis of variance tests. Results: For the total week, there was a significantly lower %SED (mean difference = −10.6%, P < .001) and significantly higher %MVPA (mean difference = +3.0%, P < .001) at the 24-week follow-up compared to baseline. There were also significantly lower %SED and higher %MVPA before school, after school, and during the weekends at 24-week follow-up compared to baseline ( P < .01). Conclusion: There were significantly lower sedentary times and higher levels of physical activity during the middle portions of the SPARK intervention in incarcerated adolescent boys, highlighting the potential of this intervention to affect sedentary and physical activity behaviors in the population.