Family-Based Physical Activity Promotion for Child Physical Activity

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Sandy Courtnall

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Victoria

Disqualifiers: Meeting PA guidelines, PARQ failure

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

148 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a family approach can boost children's physical activity levels. One group will receive basic education and planning tools, while the other will focus on building a family identity around being active, known as the Social Identity intervention. This may involve creating family roles and activities to encourage greater involvement. Families with children aged 6-12 who are not currently meeting the 60 minutes of daily active play may be a good fit. Participants should reside in specific areas of British Columbia. As an unphased trial, this study offers families a unique opportunity to actively contribute to research that could shape future health programs.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this social identity intervention is safe for promoting child physical activity?

Research shows that encouraging families to view themselves as active can help them maintain physical activity. This approach emphasizes families adopting an active lifestyle together. Studies indicate that when families engage in activities as a group, they are more likely to remain active, making it easier to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.

This study involves no medications or medical procedures. Instead, it uses coaching sessions and family activities, which carry little risk of negative side effects. Participants usually find these activities safe and manageable.

Considering joining a study like this? Discuss it with your family and healthcare provider to address any personal concerns or limitations. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to boost physical activity among children by engaging the whole family. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on individual exercise plans, this trial emphasizes family identity and teamwork. The experimental approach includes creating shared family roles and unique activities, like designing a family PA t-shirt, to foster a sense of belonging and motivation. This method aims to not only increase physical activity but also strengthen family bonds, offering a fresh perspective on promoting healthier lifestyles for children.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for increasing child physical activity?

Research shows that when families create a shared identity around being active, children's activity levels can increase. In this trial, one group will focus on identity formation, with families working together to emphasize being active, assigning roles, and planning activities as an active family. Early findings suggest this method is more effective than simply providing families with information and planning tools, which is the approach for another group in this trial. By focusing on identity, families may help children remain active for longer. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ryan Rhodes, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Victoria

Chris Blanshard, PhD

Principal Investigator

Dalhousie University

Valerie Carson, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alberta

Kurt Smith, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Victoria

Mark Beauchamp, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Shaelyn Strachan, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Manitoba

Leigh Vanderloo, PhD

Principal Investigator

ParticipACTION

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for families with at least one child aged 6-12 who does less than 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily. Families must live in specified areas of British Columbia and have no restrictions based on income or ethnicity. Children already meeting exercise guidelines or failing the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Families (parents and/or guardians and children) residing in Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan, Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, British Columbia

I am a parent with a child aged 6 to 12.

My child does less than 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Exclusion Criteria

Child is meeting the current physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day

Participant does not pass Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in either the identity formation condition or the education and planning condition, with sessions and materials provided to promote physical activity.

6 months

Multiple sessions over 6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity and health-related fitness outcomes.

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social Identity

Trial Overview The study tests if creating a family identity focused on physical activity, combined with education and planning, increases children's moderate to vigorous physical activity more than just standard education and planning after six months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Identity formation condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will receive the same content as the education+planning comparison condition but with two additional coaching sessions. The session will include short overviews of the benefits of PA as a family, brainstorming how a family can each assist each other in PA, and an activity for developing a family PA action plan. Behavior change techniques that align with these approaches and are included in the coaching session include identity salience, identity similarity, as well as identity fit and contrast. This will be supplemented by an organization of fun family PA roles for all members (e.g., activity planner, goal setter, supporter, etc.) to instill involvement as well as items (creation of a family PA t-shirt, family PA photos and display, etc.) to instill distinctiveness, which is a central feature of a social identity.

Group II: PA education and planning condition Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will receive sessions and information-based booklet and series of worksheets that provide a tangible knowledge translation product for the family. The material will consist of Canada's PA guidelines recommending 60 minutes of MVPA a day and a breakdown of ways for the parent to help their child achieve this PA, outlining three main domains of parental support (encouragement, logistical support, and PA together). The material also contains information about the benefits of PA for the child and how to plan for family PA. The material specifically includes a brainstorming exercise for parents where they list physical activities they think their children have found fun in the past. The investigators will provide this material as prompts/suggestions. This list helps create the template for PA planning by contextualizing what the parents would like to do with their kids. An additional two sessions will include education and planning material related to family healthy eating.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Victoria

Lead Sponsor

Trials

59

Recruited

12,000+

Diabetes Canada

Collaborator

Trials

13

Recruited

1,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 560 children with at least one obese parent, perceptions of parental support for physical activity varied based on the child's gender and weight status, highlighting the need to consider these factors in interventions.

Children reported receiving more intangible support (like encouragement) than tangible support (like providing equipment), and perceptions of tangible support from fathers were positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in normal-weight girls, suggesting that different types of support may influence activity levels differently.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceived parental social support and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in children at risk of obesity. Brunet, J., Sabiston, CM., O'Loughlin, J., et al.[2017]

Parents perceive that co-participation in physical activities with their young children (ages 2-4) offers significant benefits, including quality family time, improved health and well-being for children, and the development of physical skills.

Barriers to co-participation include social factors like negative stereotypes and environmental factors such as inadequate home space and neighborhood design, while parents recommend enhancing outdoor spaces and community services to facilitate more family-based physical activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Co-participation in physical activity: perspectives from Australian parents of pre-schoolers. Hnatiuk, JA., Dwyer, G., George, ES., et al.[2021]

Proximal descriptive social norms, or the behaviors and attitudes of those close to an individual, are significantly linked to explicit exercise identity, suggesting that social influences can help shape how people see themselves as exercisers.

In contrast, distal descriptive social norms, which refer to broader societal attitudes, do not appear to affect implicit exercise identity, indicating that closer social circles may be more impactful for fostering a strong exercise identity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predicting implicit and explicit exercise identity from descriptive social norms regarding exercise. Pluta, K., More, KR., Phillips, LA.[2023]

In a study of 83 parents of overweight or obese children, it was found that a positive parental support attitude towards physical activity and healthy eating significantly predicted parental identity, which in turn influenced their supportive behaviors.

Support self-regulation was identified as a key mediator between parental identity and support behaviors, highlighting the importance of fostering enjoyable experiences for parents to enhance their ability to support their children's healthy habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of identity in parental support for physical activity and healthy eating among overweight and obese children. Lithopoulos, A., Liu, S., Rhodes, RE., et al.[2021]

Adolescent girls with different body weights showed significant differences in exercise identity (EI) and healthy eater identity (HEI) at the start of a one-week camp, but both groups improved their identities after the intervention.

The study suggests that a brief, multicomponent intervention can effectively reduce identity disparities related to healthy behaviors in adolescent girls, leading to positive changes in their health behaviors regardless of their initial weight status.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Weight-Dependent Disparities in Adolescent Girls: The Impact of a Brief Pilot Intervention on Exercise and Healthy Eater Identity. Kramer, EN., Chard, CA., Walters, K., et al.[2023]

The scoping study reviewed 25 studies from various countries, highlighting that factors like self-efficacy, parental support, and access to recreational facilities positively influence physical activity levels in adolescents, while neighborhood disorder and safety concerns negatively impact them.

Adolescent obesity was linked to higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and lower intake of fruits and vegetables, suggesting that family dietary habits and food availability play crucial roles in obesity prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adolescent obesity in contextual settings: a scoping study of multilevel and hierarchical examinations. Utley, JM., Affuso, O., Rucks, AC.[2019]

In a study of 369 preschool children, it was found that while parents' own physical activity levels did not directly influence their children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), they did impact family support for children's activity, which in turn affected the children's PA levels.

Key factors such as parental enjoyment of physical activity, the importance placed on children's activity, and the quality of preschool attended were positively associated with children's physical activity, highlighting the role of family dynamics and environment in promoting active lifestyles for young children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parental and environmental correlates of physical activity of children attending preschool. Dowda, M., Pfeiffer, KA., Brown, WH., et al.[2022]

Parental support positively influences youth participation in physical activity (PA) by enhancing their self-efficacy beliefs and enjoyment of PA, as shown in a study of 595 adolescents aged 13.4 years.

Conversely, perceived parental control negatively impacts youth self-efficacy and enjoyment of PA, suggesting that supportive parenting strategies may be more effective in encouraging active lifestyles among children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Linking Parental Influences and Youth Participation in Physical Activity In- and Out-of-school: The Mediating Role of Self-efficacy and Enjoyment. Wing, EK., Bélanger, M., Brunet, J.[2015]

The SuperFIT intervention targets young children aged 2-4 years through a comprehensive approach that includes preschool, family, and community components to promote healthy energy balance-related behaviors (EBRB).

The effectiveness of SuperFIT will be evaluated using a quasi-experimental design across 21 preschools, measuring outcomes like BMI z-scores, dietary intake, and physical activity, alongside assessing changes in practices of preschool teachers and parents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study Protocol for the Evaluation of "SuperFIT", a Multicomponent Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention Approach for Preschools and Families. van de Kolk, I., Gerards, SMPL., Harms, LSE., et al.[2020]

Parents from low-income families face significant challenges, or 'person-environment misfits,' in facilitating their children's sports participation, including financial constraints, time management, and access to information and support.

To overcome these challenges, parents employ various strategies to enhance their own capabilities or modify their environments, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that address both individual and environmental factors to increase sports participation among children from low-income families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Facilitating Children's Club-Organized Sports Participation: Person-Environment Misfits Experienced by Parents from Low-Income Families. van Leeuwen, L., Annink, A., Visser, K., et al.[2022]

In a study of 767 families in rural upstate New York, it was found that higher social capital is associated with increased parental support for physical activity (PA) in older children (ages 13-19), which in turn leads to higher levels of PA among these adolescents.

The research suggests that parents of older children are more influenced by their social environment when it comes to supporting their children's physical activity, indicating that social capital plays a significant role in promoting youth PA through parental involvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations among social capital, parenting for active lifestyles, and youth physical activity in rural families living in upstate New York. Davison, KK., Nishi, A., Kranz, S., et al.[2012]

Involving parents in treatment interventions for childhood obesity is crucial, with effective strategies including goal setting, motivational counseling, and role modeling, which promote shared ownership of health goals between parents and children.

Programs that address family barriers and enhance intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy are associated with positive changes in children's dietary and physical activity behaviors, suggesting these elements should be central in future obesity treatment designs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Family-Based Behavior Change Interventions on Obesity-Related Behavior Change in Children: A Realist Synthesis. Enright, G., Allman-Farinelli, M., Redfern, J.[2020]

This review analyzed 132 studies and found that specific neighborhood and school characteristics significantly influence physical activity levels in children and adolescents, particularly highlighting the importance of community exercise opportunities and accessible physical activity facilities.

Among the 12 replicated micro-environmental predictors, factors like low crime levels and the type of school were also linked to increased physical activity, suggesting that safer and more supportive environments encourage healthier behaviors in youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Micro-environmental characteristics related to body weight, diet, and physical activity of children and adolescents: a systematic umbrella review. Safron, M., Cislak, A., Gaspar, T., et al.[2023]

A systematic review identified 18 studies involving children and youth in participatory roles for obesity interventions, with most (14) training youth to implement strategies targeting their peers.

Thirteen of the studies reported significant positive outcomes in weight, physical activity, or dietary changes, indicating that participatory approaches can be effective, though more research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Child and youth participatory interventions for addressing lifestyle-related childhood obesity: a systematic review. Frerichs, L., Ataga, O., Corbie-Smith, G., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39333930/

"We are an active family": a randomized trial protocol to ... This study will contribute to the understanding of effective strategies to increase child physical activity by comparing two intervention approaches.

2. bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-20024-8

“We are an active family”: a randomized trial protocol to ... This study will contribute to the understanding of effective strategies to increase child physical activity by comparing two intervention approaches.

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/384407021_We_are_an_active_family_a_randomized_trial_protocol_to_evaluate_a_family-system_social_identity_intervention_to_promote_child_physical_activity

(PDF) “We are an active family”: a randomized trial protocol ... The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two intervention conditions designed to increase child MVPA: (1) A standard education + ...

4. iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aphw.70009

Changes in identity and habit formation during 3 months of ... The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in PA habit and identity, two constructs purported to drive behavioral maintenance, among parents of young ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12345091/

Promoting family functioning through physical activity Results demonstrated the efficacy of the planning intervention ... family-system social identity intervention to promote child physical activity.

6. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1750984X.2025.2509218?src=exp-la

The relationship between role and social identities ... Findings suggest that physical activity participation is shaped by the extent to which people internalise physical activity roles and group memberships into ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/385021718_Intervention_effects_on_physical_activity_identity_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis

Intervention effects on physical activity identity Changes in identity and habit formation during 3 months of sport and physical activity participation among parents with young children