Outcomes of the linking exercise for advancing daily stress (LEADS) management and resilience randomized pilot trial in African American adolescents and families.

Background Previous research has examined the deleterious impact of racial stress on African Americans' mental and physical health; however, few interventions have focused on utilizing culturally salient protective factors to buffer the effect of racial stress on physical health outcomes. Purpose This pilot feasibility trial assessed the preliminary impact of Linking Exercise for Advancing Daily Stress (LEADS) Management and Resilience, a cultural and family-based resilience intervention aiming to increase physical activity and improve coping in overweight African American adolescents (N = 23 adolescent-caregiver dyads; adolescent M age 14.0 ± 2.2; M BMI percentile 97.8; 61.9% female; Parents M age 46.4 ± 8.8; M BMI 41.2 ± 7.6; 100.00% female). Methods The 10-week feasibility trial tested an online family-based group resilience and health promotion program compared to an online health education only program. Results Process evaluation demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability of both group programs. As hypothesized, among adolescents, the treatment means reflect an average increase of 4.31 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the intervention group compared to an average decrease of 7.84 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the health education group. For light physical activity, treatment means reflect an average increase of 11.08 min/day in the intervention group and an average decrease of 2.56 min/day in the health education group. Also, the intervention adolescents and parents had greater engagement in adaptive coping skills (active coping, religion to cope, cognitive reframing) from baseline to post-treatment than the health education group, and greater reductions in maladaptive, and passive coping skills (self-distraction) than the health education group. Conclusions This pilot feasibility trial demonstrates the acceptabity and feasibiity of integrating culturally sensitive strength-based interventions for African American families to promote health promotion behaviors and coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]