PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This five-year K01 is a mixed-methods research project that will be conducted in three phases (development,
optimization, feasibility) in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs (BGC). The candidate, Dr. Ashleigh Johnson,
has identified a mentorship team and training goals to facilitate her development as an independent researcher
focused on culturally tailoring community-based interventions to reduce youth physical activity (PA) disparities.
Background: Fewer than 30% of elementary-aged youth meet PA guidelines, with lower activity levels found
among girls, racial minorities, and those living in rural areas. Sport is one of the best strategies for promoting
PA, yet girls, Hispanics, and rural populations participate in youth sport at lower numbers and drop out at a
higher rate. In line with Self-Determination Theory (SDT), commonly cited barriers include lack of competence,
autonomy, and relatedness. Physical literacy and sport sampling have also been identified as key determinants
of youth sport participation. Developing interventions around physical literacy and sport sampling, with
intervention delivery grounded in SDT principles, is a promising strategy for promoting youth sport. However,
the few existing interventions aimed to promote girls’ PA through sport were developed outside the US,
focused on adolescent (versus younger) girls, and/or conducted among urban or suburban youth, limiting
generalizability. Rural, Hispanic girls face unique challenges around sport that should be identified and
addressed, yet there remains a paucity of information on determinants of sport participation among this
population. Objective: To use Human-centered Design strategies to develop a tailored sport sampling and
physical literacy intervention (Girls PLAY), in collaboration with BGC, and examine the impact on girls’ PA.
BGC is an organization that provides learning and leadership programs to millions of rural youth nationwide,
about half of whom are girls. Specific Aims: (Aim 1) Develop a tailored BGC intervention (Girls PLAY); (Aim 2)
optimize Girls PLAY using live prototyping; and (Aim 3) determine feasibility of the Girls PLAY intervention.
This work is highly significant in that increasing sport participation via BGC can reduce disparities in PA due to
gender, race, and rurality. Findings will inform continued intervention development and broader
implementation. Results from this study will also be used to pursue R01 funding for a larger scale efficacy trial.
Training and Mentorship: Dr. Johnson will receive training in: 1) community-engaged research; 2) culturally-
tailored intervention development; and 3) implementation science. She has assembled an interdisciplinary
mentorship team (Dr. Elva Arredondo, primary mentor; Drs. Emily Kroshus and Jason Bocarro, co-mentors)
with expertise in PA, community-engaged research, intervention development, youth sports, and rural
populations to ensure completion of the training plan and proposed research. This K01 Award will support Dr.
Johnson’s development as an independent investigator who identifies and addresses multi-level factors of PA
and sport participation among underserved populations in order to promote PA throughout the life course.
