NCT01588379

Mothers and Girls Dancing Together Trial

Effects of an Afro-centric Dance Program for African-American Daughters and Mothers

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 152 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 7 Years – 11 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and efficacy of a 12-week afterschool afro-centric dance physical activity program for daughters and mothers on the physical activity level of African-American girls.

Detailed description

Like African-American women, African-American girls suffer disproportionately from obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. One factor strongly associated with the development of obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus disparities in children is low physical activity levels. Low physical activity is more prevalent in African-American girls, pointing to the critical need for effective physical activity interventions. For a physical activity intervention message to be effective among African-American girls, the program must be enjoyable and tailored to African-American girls and women. One possibility for an appropriate physical activity intervention is afro-centric dance, which has strong cultural and historical significance in the African-American community. This form of physical activity may provide girls with sustained bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. There appears to be a strong positive correlation between parental and children physical activity levels. In the African-American culture, maternal health behaviors in particular have a strong influence on children's health behaviors. Currently, there are no studies that examine the effects of a daughter-mother Afro-centric dance program on the physical activity levels of African-American girls. Therefore, the purpose of this study will be to examine the feasibility and efficacy of a 12-week physical activity intervention consisting of afro-centric dance and its ability to affect the physical activity levels of African-American girls. If investigators identify afro-centric dance as a sustainable form of physical activity for African-American daughters and mothers, investigators can use this intervention to significantly reduce obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in these groups.

Conditions

• Physical Activity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Girls and mothers Afro-centric dance program	African-American girls and their mom's will participate in an after school Afro-centric dance program for 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Both girls and the mothers will also receive weekly newsletter containing various health information.
BEHAVIORAL	Girls, alone	African-American girls (without their mom's) will participate in an after school Afro-centric dance program for 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Both girls and the mothers will also receive weekly newsletter containing various health information.
OTHER	Newsletter	Both girls and the mothers will receive weekly newsletter containing various health information.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-01-01
• Primary completion: 2014-08-01
• Completion: 2014-08-01
• First posted: 2012-05-01
• Last updated: 2023-06-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States