Activity Promotion Lab | College of Health and Human Performance

Activity Promotion Lab

The Activity Promotion Laboratory (APL) supports research and teaching in the area of physical activity promotion to improve the health and quality of life of people throughout their lifespan. The APL is associated with the Master of Science in Kinesiology with concentrations in Sport & Exercise Psychology and Exercise Physiology graduate programs.

Research and community activities of the lab focus on the following:

Developing, implementing, and evaluating physical activity interventions in youth families, and adults;
Understanding factors impacting physical activity participation;
Examining the impact physical activity has on physical and mental health outcomes;
Implementing epidemiological methods to study physical activity in youth, adults, and older adults

Research conducted in the APL has been focused on individuals, families, universities, worksites, and communities.

The lab is located in Minges Coliseum Rooms 101 and 76.

Work from the APL has been featured in multiple media outlets including ECU News, WNCT, The Daily Reflector, and New York Times:

Student Research Opportunities

The research and volunteer activities associated with the APL provide undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to develop practical skills and apply knowledge obtained in their course work in a variety of applied settings.

Students within the APL have either worked on projects led by faculty affiliated with the APL or led their own research projects with APL faculty supervising.

Previous projects have included:

Examining the roles of parents’ physical activity on their children’s physical activity
Comparing physical activity levels in pregnant women from different racial and ethnic backgrounds
Evaluating sedentary behaviors in pre-school children
Assessing the effectiveness of an integrated yoga and music therapy program for caregivers
Developing a supportive community for pregnant women through physical activity and health education sessions
Exploring healthcare providers’ knowledge of physical activity to improve physical activity prescription
Assessing the effectiveness of Project Mentor: A mentoring program based on self-determination theory for adolescents with obesity
Examining the association of high school sport participation and burnout with physical activity level during college

Community Outreach and Services

The APL offers community outreach and service to Eastern North Carolina. In the past, our faculty have presented Brown Bag Luncheons for the American College of Sports Medicine, Junior League of Greenville, North Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association, Brody School of Medicine RISE program, Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance, St. Peter’s Catholic School, and ECU’s Student Health Services.

Services Provided