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Objectives. To investigate the relationships among self-efficacy, changes in self-efficacy, past exercise participation, future exercise adherence, and exercise program format. Methods. Two-year randomized trial involving subjects (n = 63) participating in an aerobic exercise program. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three exercise conditions: higher-intensity home-based exercise, higher-intensity class-based exercise, or lower-intensity home-based exercise. Results. Results indicated that baseline self-efficacy and exercise format had significant (p <.02), independent effects on adherence during the adoption and early maintenance phases of exercise behavior. In contrast, in predicting long-term exercise program maintenance, a significant (p <.05) self-efficacy X exercise format interaction indicated that self-efficacy predicted adherence only in the supervised home-based exercise conditions. Results also suggest that baseline self-efficacy, independent of the effect of past adherence, significantly (p <.03) predicted exercise adherence during the adoption phase, but not early maintenance phase, of exercise behavior. Finally, adherence change during the adoption phase of exercise behavior significantly (p <.04) predicted Year-one levels of self-efficacy even after adjusting far the effect of baseline self-efficacy. Conclusions. These results suggest that exercise program format as well as an individual's initial cognitive and behavioral experiences in an exercise program play significant roles in determining exercise adherence.

Purpose: Substantial research has demonstrated that assets (eg, family communication, school connectedness) protect youth from participation in numerous risk behaviors. However, very few studies have explored the relationship between assets and positive health behaviors. This study investigated prospective associations among assets and physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI). Design: Longitudinal design with 5 waves of data collected annually over a 4-year period. Setting: Community-based setting with participants recruited via door-to-door canvasing of homes located in stratified (by race and income) randomly selected census tracts and blocks. Participants: Participants were 1111 youth (baseline mean age = 14.3 years [SD = 1.6]; 53% female; 40.6% white, 28.6% Hispanic, 24.4% black, 6.4% other) and their parents. Measures: Weekly participation in PA, BMI, and 14 youth assets representing multiple levels of influence (individual, family, and community). Analysis: Generalized linear mixed models assessed associations among the assets and PA and BMI over the 5 waves of data. Results: There was a significant and graded relationship between assets and weekly participation in PA. For example, at the community-asset level, PA minutes were higher among youth with 2 assets ( P = .006), 3 assets ( P = .0006), and 4 to 5 assets ( P < .0001) compared to youth with 0 to 1 assets. No effects were found for BMI. Conclusion: Asset-based health promotion programs for youth may promote positive health behaviors and prevent participation in risk behaviors.

Purpose. Health Belief Model (HBM) and Transtheoretical Model concepts were used to investigate possible differences in perceptions of physical activity among African-American college women categorized by their stage of physical activity behavior. Methods. A survey was administered to 233 participants to assess their stage of physical activity behavior and HBM perceptions. Analysis of variance was used to investigate possible differences among HBM constructs for each behavior stage. Results. Perceived barriers were significantly higher (p < .05), and perceived severity, cues to action, and self-efficacy were significantly lower in the inactive group than in the active group. For example, perceived barriers were significantly higher in the inactive (mean = 2.3) stage than in the preparation (mean = 2.1), action (mean = 1.9), and maintenance (mean = 1.7) stages of physical activity behavior. Discussion. The results suggest that many perceptions of physical activity differ significantly among stages of behavior in this sample of African-American college women. A limitation was that some scales were modified specifically for this population and were not validated.

Purpose. To examine the effects of 10 youth developmental assets on adolescent tobacco use. Design. Survey of a randomly selected sample using in-home interviewing methodology. Setting. Inner-city areas of two midsized Midwestern cities. Subjects. The researchers studied 1,350 teen-parent pairs. Measures. Demographic information, adolescent self-reported tobacco use, eight developmental asset Likert scales, and two one-item developmental asset measures. Results. The response rate was 51%. Logistic regression results indicate that youth who possess nine of 10 developmental assets examined are significantly less likely to report tobacco use than youth with low levels of assets. Adjusting for youth age, race, gender, parental income and education, and family structure, significant odds ratios include the following: nonparental adult role model, 2.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45, 3.02); peer role models, 2.48 (95% CI = 1.87, 3.29); family communication, 1.73 (95% CI = 1.29, 2.31); use of time (organized groups), 1.77 (95% CI = 1.28, 2.44); use of time (religion), 2.49 (95% CI = 1.86, 3.33); good health practices (exercise/nutrition), 1.61 (95% CI = 1.21, 2.14); community involvement, 1.66 (95% CI = 1.07, 2.58); future aspirations, 2.06 (95% CI = 1.42, 2.99); and responsible choices, 2.21 (95% CI = 1.55, 3.15). Conclusions. The findings of this study support the view that certain developmental assets may serve to protect youth from risk-taking behaviors, particularly tobacco use. Limitations include cross-sectional data and three scales with alphas below .7.

Purpose: The study's purpose was to improve the psychometric properties of the Youth Asset Survey (YAS). Design: Longitudinal cohort study with youth and parents recruited via door-to-door canvassing to participate in a 5-wave, 4-year study that assessed prospective associations among youth assets and youth health-related behaviors. Additional test items were added in the last 2 waves of a study to improve the YAS. Setting: Households in randomly selected census tracts located in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Participants: Youth and their parents (N = 1111 parent/child dyads). Youth demographic characteristics at wave 4 were mean age = 17.3 (standard deviation = 1.62) years; 53% female, 41% white, 28% Hispanic, 24% African American, and 6% other. Measures: Sixty-eight items assessing 17 youth asset constructs and 8 single items assessing youth risk behaviors. Analysis: Confirmatory factor analysis and generalized linear models were conducted to assess construct reliability and predictive validity, respectively. Results: Cronbach α for the revised asset constructs ranged from .72 to .82, predictive validity was strong, and all revised asset constructs were assessed via 4 items. Conclusions: Researchers and practitioners have an improved 68-item YAS-Revised, freely available for their use, which measures 17 youth assets with good reliability, validity, and functionality.

Purpose. Evaluate youth assets or potential strengths and sexual intercourse associations by household income. Design. Data consisted of youth and parent responses from randomly selected households from a cross-sectional study and wave one of a longitudinal extension of that study. Youth assets and sexual intercourse were compared for four income categories. Setting. Midwestern racially diverse, inner-city neighborhoods. Subjects. One adolescent (12–19 years) and one parent (2335 pairs). Measures. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression. Variables assessed included parent and youth demographics, youth sexual intercourse, and youth assets (adult and peer role models, family communication, use of time [religion or sports], community involvement, future aspirations, responsible choices, and health practices). Results. Youths' mean age was 14.9 (6 1.8) years, and 52% were female; 44% of respondents were white. Use of time (religion) was significantly associated with never having sex for all but the lowest income youth (OR range = 1.79-2.64). The variable peer role models was significant for the lowest income (OR = 2.01) and two upper income groups (ORs = 2.52 and 4.27, respectively). The variable future aspirations was significant for the lowest income youth (OR = 1.77). Conclusion. The youth asset variable future aspirations was critical for the lowest income households. Other asset variables, such as peer role models and use of time (religion) were critical regardless of income. (Am J Health Promot 2011;25[5]:301-309.)

Purpose. Improve and expand an existing youth asset scale. Design. Consisted of seven steps: (1) review of poorer-performing items and constructs, (2) literature review for relevant new asset constructs/items, (3) review of revised instrument by panel of experts, (4) qualitative review through focus group research, (5) pilot-test of instrument, (6) evaluation of the performance of the instrument in a longitudinal study, and (7) conduct of test-retest analysis. Subjects/Setting. Youth (N = 1111) recruited through canvassing of randomly selected census tracts and blocks. Measures. Youth Asset Survey (YAS). Analysis. Factor analysis was conducted on 50% of the baseline data and repeated on the second half of the baseline data. Correlations were computed for the test-retest analysis. Results. Following modifications to the YAS based upon qualitative research, the survey was administered to youth (mean age, 14.3years; 53% female; 39% white, 28% Hispanic, 23% African-American, 9% other). Cronbach α = .55–.92. A majority (27 of 34) of α ≥ .65. All items loaded on one construct at α ≥ .40. The final results yielded 17 constructs assessed via 61 items. Spearman correlations and intraclass correlations ranged from .60 to .82 and .58 to .87, respectively. Conclusion. The results generally suggest that the expanded YAS is a reliable and valid measure of assets.

This study investigated significant relationships between youth assets and youth alcohol, tobacco, and drug use that differ according to family structure (one‐ or two‐parent households). Data were collected from a randomly sampled inner‐city population (n=1,256 teenagers and 1,256 parents of the teenagers) using in‐home, in‐person interviews. Logistic regression analyses, stratifying by one‐ and two‐parent household status, were conducted with nine youth assets as the independent variables and youth alcohol, tobacco, and drug use as the dependent variables. Results indicated that the associations between assets and risk behaviors varied depending upon whether the youth lived in one‐ or two‐parent households. Continued research is warranted to further investigate associations among family structure, youth assets, and youth risk behaviors.

Purpose. To investigate the possible positive cumulative effects that youth assets may have on youth sexual behaviors. Design. Cross-sectional data were collected from a randomly selected population by in-home, in-person interviews. Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted to determine the potential cumulative effects that youth assets may have on youth sexual behaviors and to test for significant asset by sexual risk behavior trends. Setting. Racially diverse inner-city neighborhoods in two midwestern cities. Subjects. Teenagers (n = 1350; mean age = 15.2 years) and parents of the teenagers (n = 1350). The response rate was 51%. Measures. Demographic factors, nine youth assets, and five sexual behavior outcomes. Results. Significant (p < .05) trends and odds ratios (ORs) were found for three of the five youth sexual behavior outcomes. Youths with more assets were more likely to have never participated in sexual intercourse (OR = 1.32). Of sexually active youths, those with more assets were more likely to have delayed first intercourse until at least 17 years of age (OR = 1.47) and to have used birth control at last sexual intercourse (OR = 1.18). Nonsignificant (p > .05) results were found for current sexual activity and number of sexual partners. Conclusions. The results generally support the notion that the more assets adolescents possess, the more likely they are to engage in positive behavior. Practitioners planning asset-based teenage pregnancy prevention programs might consider promoting several specific youth assets.

Purpose.To investigate relationships among youth risk behaviors and demographic factors using an adolescent age group approach.Design.Cross-sectional data from a randomly selected population. Risk behaviors were compared within specific demographic factors and by adolescent age groups.Setting.Racially diverse, inner-city neighborhoods in two midwestern cities.Subjects.Teenagers (n = 1350) and parents (n = 1350) of the teenagers.Measures.Truancy; arrested/picked up by police; weapon carrying; fighting; sexual intercourse; tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; demographic factors; and family structure.Results.Youth mean age was 15.4 (±1.7) years and 52% were female; racial/ethnic characteristics were 47% White, 22% Black, 19% Hispanic, and 10% Native American. Parents' mean age was 42.2 (±8.4) years and 81% were female. χ2analyses indicated numerous significant (p < .05) youth risk behavior differences within the demographic factors and that many of the differences varied by adolescent age group. For example, risk behavior differences within racial/ethnic groups were most profound in the middle and older age groups, whereas risk behavior differences within parent income, education levels, and family structure were most apparent in the younger age groups. Of the demographic factors, family structure was most frequently associated with the risk behaviors.Conclusions.The results generally suggest that the relationships among risk behaviors and demographic factors vary within the adolescent age groups included in this study. The results will be useful for developing age-appropriate prevention programs for youth who fit the profile for these risk behaviors. The study protocol also includes specific sampling methods that may be useful for future studies that intend to collect data from difficult-to-reach populations.

Hispanic females, ages 15-19, experienced the highest birth rates and smallest decline in birth rates over the past decade compared to youth of other racial/ethnic groups. This study's purpose was to investigate relationships among a series of protective factors, or youth assets, and sexual activity in the Hispanic/Latino youth population. Data were collected from Hispanic youth and their parents (N=232 youth/parent pairs) in randomly selected households using in-person, in-home interview methods. Independent variables were nine youth assets; "never had sexual intercourse" was the dependent variable. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Three assets were found to be significantly associated with whether or not Hispanic/Latino youth ever had sexual intercourse. Odds of never having had sexual intercourse were at least three times higher for youth with the Peer Role Models, Use of Time (religion), or Responsible Choices assets, compared to youth without these assets. Further Hispanic youth asset/risk behavior research is merited.

The potential of Community Involvement as a protective factor (youth asset) for eight adolescent risk behaviors was examined in this study. Cross-sectional data were collected from a randomly-selected population using in-home, in-person interviews in racially diverse inner-city neighborhoods of two Midwestern cities. Research participants were teenagers (n=1,278) and parents of the teenagers (n=1,278). Data included demographic variables; eight adolescent risk behaviors, including sexual activity, violence and the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. This study found youth with the Community Involvement asset were significantly (p