Family Physical Activity for Increasing Physical Activity

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Victoria

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

240 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to examine physical activity habit formation in parents and if this can increase moderate to vigorous physical activity behavior in their children over six months. The Primary Research Question is: Does the habit formation condition result in increased moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity of the child compared to the control (education) and education + planning conditions at six months? Hypothesis: Child physical activity will be higher for the habit formation condition in comparison to the more standard physical activity education and planning conditions at six months.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Family Physical Activity Habit Formation, Family Physical Activity Planning?

Research shows that family physical activity planning can increase family physical activity levels, as seen in a study where families who used planning materials reported more activity than those who did not. Additionally, family-based interventions can improve family cohesion and organization, especially in families with young children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is family physical activity planning safe for humans?

Research on family physical activity interventions, like the pilot study of a family physical activity planning intervention, suggests they are safe and can increase physical activity levels in families. Participants in these studies have reported positive experiences and improvements in family engagement and functioning. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How does the Family Physical Activity Habit Formation and Planning treatment differ from other treatments for increasing physical activity?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on creating habits and planning within the family unit to increase physical activity, rather than just providing education or guidelines. It emphasizes the role of family dynamics, such as parental support and co-activity, to sustain physical activity habits over time. ^{2 9 10 11 12}

Research Team

Ryan Rhodes, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Victoria

Darren Warburton, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Benjamin Gardner, PhD

Principal Investigator

King's College London

Mark Beauchamp, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Chris Blanshard, PhD

Principal Investigator

Dalhousie University

Valerie Carson, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alberta

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for families with children aged 6-12 who aren't active enough according to Canada's guidelines. Parents should report low family physical activity levels but must be safe to exercise as determined by the PAR-Q.

Inclusion Criteria

The child is not meeting the physical activity guidelines recommended by Canada.

You do not engage in physical activities with your family.

You are a parent of a child who is between 6 and 12 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

participant is unsafe to participate in physical activity as determined by answers to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in physical activity habit formation, planning, or control conditions to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity over six months

6 months

Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity, health-related fitness, and quality of life

6 months

Assessments at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Family Physical Activity Habit Formation
• Family Physical Activity Planning

Trial Overview The study tests if helping parents form a habit of being physically active can make their kids more active too. It compares three groups: one gets habit formation guidance, another gets education, and the last gets both education and planning help.

Participant Groups

Group I: Family physical activity Planning Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Behavoural: Family Physical Activity Planning. The physical activity planning intervention condition will receive the same guidelines as the standard education control group but will also be provided with family physical activity planning material. This material will include workbook on how to plan for family physical activity; brainstorming exercises for parents \& children where they list physical activities that they have found fun in the past, as well as some new activities they would like to try \& skill training content to help with goal setting \& tracking of physical activity.

Group II: Family Physical Activity Habit Formation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Behavioural: Family Physical Activity Habit formation. The Habit formation intervention condition will receive the same content as the education control condition and the physical activity planning condition but with additional material on creating physical activity support habits. The material includes a brief discussion of what habits are with some very straightforward examples such as preparing for sleep routines or initiating to drive a car to work. A key component of the habit section will be based on planning for context-dependent repetition, with pointers on how to maintain repetition as habit forms.

Group III: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group package will consist of the Canadian 24 Hour Movement Guidelines recommending 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day for children. The guide also contains arguments \& information about the benefits of physical activity.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Victoria

Lead Sponsor

Trials

59

Recruited

12,000+

King's College London

Collaborator

Trials

772

Recruited

26,130,000+

University of British Columbia

Collaborator

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Dalhousie University

Collaborator

Trials

177

Recruited

402,000+

University of Alberta

Collaborator

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Collaborator

Trials

131

Recruited

72,600+

Findings from Research

A study involving 421 girls in South Carolina showed that perceived family support is crucial for maintaining physical activity levels as they age, with lower family support linked to faster declines in activity.

The research indicates that enhancing family support can significantly impact physical activity, accounting for about one-third of a standard deviation change in activity levels, regardless of the girls' self-efficacy or perceived control over their behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family support for physical activity in girls from 8th to 12th grade in South Carolina. Dowda, M., Dishman, RK., Pfeiffer, KA., et al.[2018]

Family physical activity interventions can enhance family cohesion, especially in families with children aged 5-12, indicating that engaging in physical activities together can strengthen family bonds.

High-quality studies suggest that these interventions also improve family organization, particularly when tailored to specific family dynamics or characteristics, such as low-income families or particular parent-child relationships.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family-based physical activity interventions and family functioning: A systematic review. Rhodes, RE., Hollman, H., Sui, W.[2023]

This study investigates a theory-based intervention aimed at preventing declines in physical activity among new parents over a 6-month period, involving 152 couples, making it the first dyad-based initiative in this area.

If successful, the intervention could provide a valuable strategy for maintaining physical activity levels during parenthood, potentially influencing public health practices and materials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a physical activity intervention for new parents: protocol paper for a randomized trial. Quinlan, A., Rhodes, RE., Beauchamp, MR., et al.[2018]

The adaptation of the Familias Unidas intervention for obesity prevention in Hispanic adolescents involved input from experts and families, leading to a program that emphasizes improved family health, nutrition education, and physical activity engagement.

Pilot testing showed that parents were enthusiastic about hands-on nutrition training, and adolescents expressed a desire for more joint physical activities with their parents, highlighting the importance of family involvement in obesity prevention efforts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Familias Unidas for Health and Wellness: Adapting an Evidence-Based Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Intervention for Obesity Prevention in Hispanic Adolescents. St George, SM., Messiah, SE., Sardinas, KM., et al.[2023]

References

1. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving aerobic fitness in older adults: effects of a physician-based exercise counseling and prescription program. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot study of a family physical activity planning intervention among parents and their children. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family self-tailoring: Applying a systems approach to improving family healthy living behaviors. [2018]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family support for physical activity in girls from 8th to 12th grade in South Carolina. [2018]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family-based physical activity interventions and family functioning: A systematic review. [2023]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a physical activity intervention for new parents: protocol paper for a randomized trial. [2018]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Familias Unidas for Health and Wellness: Adapting an Evidence-Based Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Intervention for Obesity Prevention in Hispanic Adolescents. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Familial aggregation of nutrient intake and physical activity: results from the San Antonio Family Heart Study. [2019]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The importance of families to adolescents' physical activity and dietary intake. [2016]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predicting Family and Child Physical Activity across Six-Months of a Family-Based Intervention: An Application of Theory of Planned Behaviour, Planning and Habit. [2021]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents and children active together: a randomized trial protocol examining motivational, regulatory, and habitual intervention approaches. [2021]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resemblance in Physical Activity in Families with Children in Time Segments during the Week: The Lolland-Falster Health Study. [2023]