RecruitingNot Applicable

Theory-Based Parenting Intervention for Preschool Children's Health Behaviors

China80 participantsStarted 2026-02-28

Plain-language summary

The goal of this study is to test whether a 4-week online program can help parents better support health behaviors of their preschool children (aged 3-6 years). Preschool children often rely on their parents to build health behaviors, such as being physically active, limiting screen time, drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, and washing their hands regularly. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does the program improve parents' motivation, planning, and habits related to supporting their children's health behaviors? Do parents who receive the program provide more support for their children? Do preschool children in the program show improvements in health behaviors? Can improvements explained by changes in parents' psychological factors? Researchers will compare parents who receive the program immediately to parents in a waitlist control group. Participants will: Complete online questionnaires before the program, after the program, and one month later (Intervention group only). Complete eight online sessions over four weeks using a mobile program.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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Inclusion Criteria: * Parent of at least one child aged 3-6 years * Living in the same household as the child * Aged 18 years or older * Able to read and understand Chinese * Willing to participate in a 4-week online intervention program Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported diagnosis of a severe psychiatric disorder that may interfere with participation * Cognitive impairment or language difficulties that prevent comprehension of study materials or completion of questionnaires * Currently participating in another structured parenting or health behavior intervention program

What they're measuring

Mean score on the Parental Support for Child Physical Activity Scale

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Mean score on the Parental Support for Child Screen Time Reduction Scale

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Mean score on the Parental Support for Child Handwashing Scale

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Mean score on the Parental Support for Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Reduction Scale

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Average daily outdoor physical activity time of the child (hours/day)

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Average daily child screen time (hours/day)

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Mean score on the Child Handwashing Behavior Scale

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1-month follow-up

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07458009

SponsorSun Yat-sen University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-04-28

Contact for this trial

Nuoyan Lu

+8618088834525 luny3@mail2.sysu.edu.cn

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Preschool Children's Health Behaviors trials