Insufficient physical activity in children and adults is linked to increased risk of physical and mental health conditions. Parents have an important influence on their children's activity, and preliminary aimed at promoting physical activity suggest the family unit as a potentially efficacious means of delivery. However, there is relatively little research examining the efficacy of family interventions aimed at promoting both parents' and children's physical activity. In addition, many family-based interventions are not guided by behavioral theory known to enhance intervention efficacy and reduce variability, and do not target low-active families. This project will therefore develop and test the efficacy of a theory-based behavioral intervention to increase physical activity engagement in low-active children and their parents. The intervention will adopt a randomized waitlist-controlled design with parents and their children allocated to an intervention group that receives theory-based content targeting changes in key behavioral determinants or to a waitlist control group that receives measurement only. The intervention will be delivered to parent-child dyads in a series of four online meetings with a trained facilitator, accompanied by web-based supporting materials, and a moderated social support online chat group. The primary dependent variable will be parents' and children's leisure time physical activity, and secondary outcomes will be device measured physical activity (intervention group only) and measures of key theory-based determinants of physical activity, including autonomous motivation, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, intentions, and perceived autonomy support. These outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-baseline. Parents and children allocated to the intervention group are expected to exhibit higher levels of physical activity and behavioral determinants. Intervention effects on physical activity change are expected to be mediated by the theory-based determinants, consistent with psychological theory. The project will contribute to research by testing the efficacy of a unique intervention based on behavioral theory expected to be effective in promoting physical activity in low-active parents and their children, and providing guidelines and materials that practitioners in health promotion and public health can use in campaigns and national strategies to promote physical activity in this population.
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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Godin Leisure time physical activity questionnaire
Timeframe: Assessed at pre-intervention, 3 months (i.e., immediately post intervention), 6 months, and 12 months.