The Feasibility of High-Intensity Training to Improve Self-Control and Occupational Participation in At-Risk Adolescents

Purpose Adolescence is a challenging time navigating self-control and decision-making, creating vulnerability to developing poor habits and unhealthy behaviors. This feasibility study aimed to determine if a high-intensity training program (HIT) would improve self-control, health-related behaviors, and healthy occupational participation in at-risk adolescents in the Real Talk Youth Impact Program (Real Talk), measured by the Occupational Experience Profile (OEP). Methodology Three at-risk adolescent were recruited via convenience sampling from Real Talk to participate in a twelve-session HIT intervention, one participant completed all sessions. Researchers used a quasi-experimental exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to examine self-control, health-related behaviors, and occupational participation measured before and after each exercise session using the OEP. Qualitative data informed quantitative data using the OEP. Results Results suggest that engaging in a five-week high-intensity exercise protocol may contribute to the participant’s improved self-control and healthy decision-making choices when engaging in extracurricular activities. Additionally, the OEP captured participant’s improved self-efficacy and insights into various environmental factors that contributed to or inhibited perception of healthy occupations through exercise intensity. Conclusion Results suggest that HIT may assist with improving self-control, healthy- related behaviors, and healthy occupational participation in at-risk adolescents in a community-based setting as measured by the OEP. Future research is needed with larger sample sizes to determine the validity of HIT’s benefits for at-risk youth.