# IPREP Supplemental: Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Resiliency

> **NIH NIH R25** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2021 · $41,561

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The IUPUI Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (IPREP) provides academic enhancement and
extensive research experiences to prepare talented college graduates from diverse backgrounds for success in
rigorous Ph.D. and MD./Ph.D. programs in biomedical and behavioral research. IPREP trainees from
underrepresented minority groups at predominantly white institutions may face marginalizing experiences such
as discrimination that may lead to both mental health problems and poor academic performance. Research
demonstrates that engaging trainees in extracurricular activities, such as physical activity participation, is a
best practice. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve assertiveness, confidence, memory, attention,
depression, anxiety, resiliency, and work errors. Despite PA’s contribution to cognitive and mental health
outcomes, nationally representative accelerometry data show that less than 10% of all adults meet the
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to
vigorous PA per week. A key barrier to PA participation is a lack of understanding of how to participate in PA
while navigating obstacles such as cost, time, transportation, and lack of social support. The goal of the
proposed project is to provide a guided program in PA education that serves as a life-long tool to promote
IPREP trainee well-being, resiliency, and persistence in challenging careers focused on biomedical and
behavioral research. Trainees will complete a baseline mental health assessment, exercise self-efficacy scale,
and assessment of resilience. Additionally, their cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance,
and body composition will be measured. All trainees will be given a Fitbit, and their activity and sleep will be
monitored via Fitabase. We will use the ACSM Exercise is Medicine® evidence-based curriculum for self-
paced, didactic education over an eight-week period. We will monitor trainee progress on the didactic modules
via the Canvas learning management software. After eight weeks, IPREP trainees will be assigned to an
Exercise Science student who is experienced in PA programming and health coaching and will serve as the
IPREP trainee’s personal trainer. IPREP trainees will select from a variety of exercise programs, sports, or
other self-identified physical activities that the personal trainer will support. We will re-evaluate the baseline
measures at weeks 8, 16, 32, and 64. The evaluators will collect, analyze, and report data to assist the
leadership team in deciding which elements of the intervention should be institutionalized and incorporated into
the IPREP and other training programs. Clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms (i.e. PHQ score >
10) will be reported to the trainee and referral to their healthcare provider for further evaluation and treatment.
Research results will be presented at relevant professional meetings and submitted f...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10392670
- **Project number:** 3R25GM109432-08S1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Rafael Bahamonde
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $41,561
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10392670

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10392670, IPREP Supplemental: Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Resiliency (3R25GM109432-08S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10392670. Licensed CC0.

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