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Barriers to Resistance Training in Adolescent Populations Marcelle Brown, PhD Research Student, Division of Sport & Exercise Science, Abertay University Email: m.brown1700@abertay.ac.uk Background Regular participation in youth resistance training has been shown to:
Methodology Based on Ajzen and Fishbein’s theory of reasoned action (TRA),11 a validated questionnaire will be developed via a 5-step process:
Enhance sports performance indices such as muscular strength, power, speed, and agility.1 Elicit positive health and fitness outcomes in adolescent populations such as improved body composition, adiposity, improved bone-mineral density, and decreased injury risk. 1,2,3 Improve insulin sensitivity and cardiac function in overweight adolescents and obese children.1,4,5 Correlate with positive psychological health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents.1,6,7 Research has consistently shown that resistance training is not only safe for this population, but highly beneficial.1,8 Despite this, 81% of youths aged 11–17 years still fail to meet physical activity guidelines which now include resistance training activities.1,8,9 It is likely common myths and misconceptions regarding its safety persist and contribute to these barriers - particularly from parents/guardians.10 However, further research is required to gain a better understanding of the potential barriers to resistance training in adolescent populations.
Objective To develop and validate a questionnaire to identify key perceived barriers to resistance training in adolescents.
Participants At least 85 secondary school pupils ranging in age between 13-16 years old and their parents/guardians. As this study involves the development of a validated questionnaire through an iterative process, an exact number of participants for all stages cannot be provided at this time.
Step 1. Completion of an open-ended questionnaire where feedback on readability, relevance, and suitability of content will be collected from participants. Step 2. Completion of amended questionnaire, as per step 1, to generate items to be included within a quantitative questionnaire. Step 3. Completion of quantitative questionnaire for data analysis to understand the relationship of items, and to inform on which items to keep/discard. Step 4. An iterative process of step 3 until statistical analysis supports the construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Step 5. Completion of the final validated questionnaire will be administered to participants, and data collected for analysis.
Next Steps The identification of key perceived barriers to resistance training in adolescents will be important to inform the development of tailored resistance training interventions for this population.
References 1. Lloyd RS, Faigenbaum AD, Stone MH, Oliver JL, Jeffreys I, Moody JA, et al. Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus. Br J Sports Med 2014;48(7):498. 2. Schwingshandl J, Sudi K, Eibl B, Wallner S, Borkenstein M. Effect of an individualised training programme during weight reduction on body composition: a randomised trial. Archives of disease in childhood. 1999;81(5):426-428. 3. Benson AC, Torode ME, Fiatarone Singh MA. Effects of resistance training on metabolic fitness in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews 2008 January;9(1):43-66. 4. Shaibi GQ, Cruz ML, Ball GDC, Weigensberg MJ, Salem GJ, Crespo NC, et al. Effects of resistance training on insulin sensitivity in overweight Latino adolescent males. MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE 2006;38(7):1208-1215. 5. Naylor LH, Watts K, Sharpe JA, Jones TW, Davis EA, Thompson A, et al. Resistance training and diastolic myocardial tissue velocities in obese children. MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE 2008;40(12):2027-2032. 6. Velez A, Golem LD, Arent MS, et al. The Impact of a 12-Week Resistance Training Program on Strength, Body Composition, and Self-Concept of Hispanic Adolescents. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2010; 24(4):1065-1073. 7. Yu CCW, Sung RYT, Hau KT, Lam PKW, Nelson EAS, So RCH. The effect of diet and strength training on obese children's physical self-concept. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2008;48(1):76-82. 8. Chaabene H, Lesinski M, Behm DG, Granacher U. Performance - and health-related benefits of youth resistance training. Sports Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2020;36(3):231-240. 9. Nhs.uk [internet]. Physical activity guidelines for children and young people. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-guidelines/physical-activity-guidelines-childrenand-young-people/ 10. Faigenbaum AD, Myer GD. Resistance training among young athletes: safety, efficacy and injury prevention effects British Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;44:56-63 11. Conner M, Norman, P. Predicting and changing health behaviour: research and practice with social cognition models. 3 rd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press; 2015.
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