Physical Activity for Family Functioning

(SSHRC-Family Trial)

Overseen By Sandy Courtnall

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Victoria

Disqualifiers: Active children, Failed PARQ, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 6 months

165 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether combining identity-building and self-regulation training with basic healthy-living education can help families with inactive children become more active and connected. Researchers will compare three approaches: identity + self-regulation + education, self-regulation + education, and education alone. The goal is to determine which method best improves family interactions and increases children's physical activity. Families with a child aged 6-12 who does not engage in 60 minutes of daily physical activity and reside in Canada may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers families the opportunity to explore innovative ways to enhance their children's activity levels and family connections.

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 program is safe for families?

Research has shown that family-based physical activity programs, like those in this trial, are generally safe and easy for families to join. For the Self Regulation group, studies have not identified any safety issues. These programs typically involve planning and organizing family activities, which are safe and straightforward.

Similarly, for the PA Support & Family Social Identity group, no problems have been reported. This approach includes activities that help build a strong family and parental identity around physical activity, which is also safe.

In summary, these programs focus on teaching and family interactions. They do not involve medications or medical procedures, so the risk of harm is very low. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these approaches because they aim to improve family functioning through physical activity by focusing on identity and self-regulation. Unlike standard educational methods that simply provide information about physical activity benefits, the Self Regulation arm teaches families to strategically plan their physical activities with backup plans, making it practical and actionable. The PA Support & Family Social Identity arm is particularly unique because it strengthens the family's shared identity around physical activity, helping parents become role models and prioritize supporting their children's active lifestyles. This could lead to more sustained engagement in physical activity by embedding it within the family's social identity, something traditional methods don't typically address.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving family cohesion and physical activity?

This trial will compare strategies to enhance family physical activity and functioning. Participants in the Self Regulation arm will receive training on planning and executing family physical activities. Research shows this can significantly increase family activity levels and improve interactions. A review of several studies found that such programs increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by an average of 5.13 units.

The PA Support & Family Social Identity arm will focus on strengthening parents' identities as supporters of physical activity. Studies have found this can lead to increased activity for the whole family. This approach also fosters a shared sense of being active together, further strengthening family bonds. Overall, both strategies in this trial have shown promise in boosting physical activity and improving family relationships. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ryan Rhodes, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Victoria

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for families in Canada with at least one parent and a child aged 6-10 who are not very active, doing less than 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. It aims to improve family functioning by increasing the child's physical activity and encouraging parents to support this.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a parent with a child aged 6 to 10.

Families residing in Canada with children that engage in less than sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day are eligible.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in physical activity parenting support promotion approaches to improve family function outcomes

6 months

Multiple virtual workshops and educational sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in family function and physical activity levels

6 months

Assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Identity & Family functioning
• Self Regulation

Trial Overview The study tests whether increased parental support can boost children's physical activity levels and improve how well the family functions as a unit. It challenges previous approaches that focus on intentions rather than actual behavior change.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Self Regulation Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

The SR condition will receive all of the same education material as the education condition in addition to skill training content (how to plan for family PA) based on our prior family trials. Families will be instructed to plan for "when," "where," "how," and "what" PA will be performed, and to create back-up plans commensurate with the creation of action and coping planning.

Group II: PA Support & Family Social Identity Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

The ID condition receives the same education and self-regulation content as the other groups, but with additional activities designed to strengthen (i) parents' PA-support identity and (ii) the family's shared PA social identity. Session 1 involves only the parent(s) and focuses on parental support identity. The content is based on the behaviour change principles of self-identity theory that should lead to increases in self-identity. This session's activities include: 1) bringing awareness to the concept of identity and being a role model, 2) an activity on finding the meaning and value of parental support of child PA, 3) an activity on setting prioritization rules around parental support for child PA in comparison to other parenting responsibilities and values (brainstormed), 4) developing an affirmation for parental support self-talk, and 5) planning ways to visually demonstrate the parental support identity for self-categorization (e.g., on social media, pictures in frames).

Group III: Education Active Control 1 Intervention

The Education condition package will consist of Canada's PA guidelines, information about the benefits of child and adult PA, healthy living and a breakdown of ways for the parent to help their child achieve this PA.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Victoria

Lead Sponsor

Trials

59

Recruited

12,000+

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Collaborator

Trials

28

Recruited

6,100+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

Physical activity significantly enhances cognitive, emotional, and social well-being, which can improve therapy outcomes for clients, highlighting its importance in mental health treatment.

There is a need for family therapists to be trained in assessing and integrating physical activity into their practice, as a structured framework for these competencies is essential for effective collaboration with health professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A framework for incorporating physical activity in treatment: Competencies, guidelines, and implications for family therapists. Novak, JR., Ellis, FK.[2022]

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]

In a study of 280 parent-adolescent pairs, discrepancies in how parents and adolescents report family functioning were linked to lower levels of physical activity and poorer dietary habits among adolescents, particularly in fruit and vegetable intake.

Specifically, larger discrepancies in family functioning reports were associated with fewer days of physical activity and less healthy eating, highlighting the importance of understanding family dynamics in addressing obesity-related health issues in Hispanic adolescents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of parent-adolescent reported family functioning discrepancy on physical activity and diet among Hispanic youth. Lebron, CN., Lee, TK., Park, SE., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 99 women with obesity over 6 months, a treatment focusing on self-regulatory skills led to greater improvements in exercise and healthy eating behaviors compared to a more balanced approach.

The research found that increased exercise was linked to better eating habits through improved self-regulation and self-efficacy, highlighting the importance of enhancing self-regulatory skills in obesity interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychological Mechanisms of Interactions between Improvements in Exercise and Healthy Eating Behaviors (Coaction) within a Community-Based Obesity Treatment Setting. Annesi, JJ.[2022]

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]

In a study of 116 severely obese adults, self-regulation skills were directly linked to increased exercise and higher fruit and vegetable consumption, suggesting that improving self-regulation could enhance weight management efforts.

Negative mood was found to mediate the relationship between self-regulation and both physical activity and healthy eating, indicating that emotional factors may play a significant role in the effectiveness of behavioral weight management programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationships between self-regulation skills and physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption in obese adults: mediation of mood and self-efficacy. Annesi, JJ.[2016]

The study analyzed the leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) of 1,136 parents (533 males and 603 females) and found that family environment factors, such as family type and residence, significantly influence physical activity habits.

Results indicated that different family structures and living situations create unique patterns of support and rules that affect how active parents are, highlighting the importance of considering family dynamics in promoting physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family process and parent's leisure time physical activity. Soubhi, H., Potvin, L., Paradis, G.[2019]

The Exercise Resourcefulness Inventory (ERI) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing self-regulatory strategies that promote regular exercise, supported by strong internal consistency and validity measures across two studies.

A high test-retest reliability score of .80 indicates that the ERI can consistently measure exercise resourcefulness over time, and higher ERI scores are associated with greater likelihood of advancing to higher stages of exercise behavior change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and practical implications of the Exercise Resourcefulness Inventory. Fast, HV., Kennett, DJ.[2016]

Adolescents who reported better family functioning engaged in more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during weekdays, suggesting that supportive family environments can encourage physical activity.

Higher quality friendships were linked to increased MVPA and reduced sedentary time, particularly among boys, indicating that fostering positive friendships may also help reduce sedentary behaviors in adolescents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceived family functioning and friendship quality: cross-sectional associations with physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Atkin, AJ., Corder, K., Goodyer, I., et al.[2022]

The 12-week family-based physical activity intervention did not lead to significant increases in actual physical activity levels among mother/daughter pairs, but it did result in notable improvements in their perceived sport competence and physical self-perception.

The use of Social Cognitive Theory in designing the intervention showed promise in enhancing the physical self-perception of adolescent girls and their mothers, suggesting that focusing on psychological aspects can be beneficial even if physical activity levels do not increase significantly.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Daughters and mothers exercising together (DAMET): a 12-week pilot project designed to improve physical self-perception and increase recreational physical activity. Ransdell, LB., Dratt, J., Kennedy, C., et al.[2015]

In a study of postpartum women, 40% engaged in less than 1 hour of vigorous activity daily, highlighting a significant gap in physical activity levels during this period.

The study found that processes of change, particularly environmental reevaluation, significantly influenced body mass index, suggesting that increasing awareness of the health impacts of obesity could motivate postpartum women to initiate exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stages of change, processes of change, and social support for exercise and weight gain in postpartum women. Keller, C., Allan, J., Tinkle, MB.[2016]

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]

In a study of 48 older obese adults, adding a self-regulatory intervention (SRI) that focused on self-monitoring physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior significantly improved weight maintenance after a weight loss program.

Participants in the SRI group maintained about 10% lower weight than their baseline, while those without the SRI only maintained about 5% lower weight, indicating that self-monitoring can be an effective strategy for long-term weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-monitoring of spontaneous physical activity and sedentary behavior to prevent weight regain in older adults. Nicklas, BJ., Gaukstern, JE., Beavers, KM., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. 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 in increasing children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40796896/

a randomized trial to evaluate the "All in the Family" program This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of three family PA interventions: (1) PA education alone; (2) PA education + PA parenting self- ...

3. ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-025-01778-9

a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis The purpose of this review was to appraise and synthesize qualitative research regarding parents' experiences of family-based PA interventions.

4. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/famp.12864

Family‐based physical activity interventions and ... Family physical activity (PA) can confer multiple health benefits, yet whether PA interventions affect general family functioning has not ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/394457315_Promoting_family_functioning_through_physical_activity_a_randomized_trial_to_evaluate_the_All_in_the_Family_program

(PDF) Promoting family functioning through physical activity This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of three family PA interventions: (1) PA education alone; (2) PA education + PA parenting self-regulation skills; and ( ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12220237/

Parents' experiences of family-based physical activity ... The purpose of this review was to appraise and synthesize qualitative research regarding parents' experiences of family-based PA interventions.

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-physical-activities-11-2023-43a8d

Physical Activity for Family Functioning (SSHRC-Family Trial) The research articles reviewed do not provide specific safety data for the intervention of physical activity for family functioning, but they do not report any ...

8. alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70696

A scoping review and comprehensive needs assessment for ... Results highlight challenges such as memory loss, fatigue, social withdrawal, and a desire for meaningful, safe, and structured activities.