The impact of a school-based health and well-being program for adolescent girls on levels of well-being, mindfulness, screen-time and physical activity.

INTERVENTION: Health and Wellbeing for Girls will be run as a Grade 8 (ages 13‐14 years) endorsed elective course during normal curriculum time in 2017. The elective course will be implemented and evaluated as a group randomized controlled trial (RCT) in one secondary school. All students who choose to complete the elective course in 2017 will be randomised by class into either the intervention group (who complete the program Semester 1) or the wait‐list control group (who will receive the program in Semester 2). There will be four (4) classes involved in the study, with approximately 90 girls participating in the program in 2017. The Health and Wellbeing for Girls program is an evidence‐based program that will be delivered by two experienced and qualified physical education teachers. It will be delivered within 5 hours of curriculum time per fortnight over two school terms (20 weeks), and includes relevant and enjoyable theory and practical components relating to mindfulness, wellbeing, physical activity behaviours, socio‐emotional health and resilience. The feasibility and the effectiveness of the 20‐week multi‐component curriculum program for improving a range of health and wellbeing outcomes in adolescent girls in the school setting will be assessed using validated measures at baseline (Week 1 Term 1 2017) and at 6‐months (Week 1 Term 3 2017). Participants will also be asked to give their opinions about the program via a short evaluation survey at the completion of the program. Information provided to the classes includes activities on: Self ‐ acceptance and awareness, Cyber bullying / The effects of Social Media and Coping Strategies Understanding that Body Image and Self Esteem can be improved Sexual Health and Assertiveness / Recognising our Strengths Stages of Girlhood / Girlhood to Womanhood Drugs and their Impact on Decision Making Importance of Positive Thinking On Achievement Improving relationships amongst girls. Mindfulness meditation techniques are taught, along with Yoga, 3 minute High Intensity Interval Training, Fitness activities and Games. 5 one‐hour sessions are delivered during the fortnight in which PowerPoint presentations, video clips and questions, along with discussion group formats are utilised. Register of attendance at every lesson is monitored electronically and a lesson register is kept by the teacher. CONDITION: Anxiety Body Image Concerns Depression Mental Health Physical Inactivity Stress levels PRIMARY OUTCOME: How does a school‐based health and wellbeing program impact on the wellbeing levels of adolescent girls? ; Psychological well‐being: Diener and colleagues’ psychological flourishing scale (Diener et al., 2010) will be used to measure subjective well‐being. SECONDARY OUTCOME: INCLUSION CRITERIA: Health and Wellbeing for Girls will be run as a Grade 8 (ages 13‐14 years) endorsed elective course during normal curriculum time in 2017, so all Grade 8 students enrolled in this elective course will be invited and eligible to participate in the study. ; . Motivation: Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire ‐ 2 ( BREQ‐2) ( Markland & Tobin, 2004) Mindfulness: Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure ( CAMM) ( Greco, Baer & Smith, 2011) Physical Activity: Physical Activity levels will be measured using a pedometer for seven days. ( Scheider, Crouter & Lukajic, 2003) Psychological Health: Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire ( SDQ): Goodman, 2201;Goodman, Meltzer & Bailey, 2003) Rumination: Rumination Scale ( Treynor, Gonzalez & Nolen‐Hoeksema, 2003) Screen Time: Adolescent sedentary Activity Questionnaire ( ASAQ ( Hardy, Booth & Okely, 2007) Self‐Compassion: Self ‐Compassion ( Neff, 2016) Social Health: A modified version of the Hemmingway: measure of adolescent connectedness ( Karcher & Sass, 2010)