Promoting physical activity in children through family-based intervention: protocol of the “Active 1 + FUN” randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Physical activity (PA) is beneficial to people’s physical and psychological health. Physically active children are likely to become active adults; thus, active lifestyles should be promoted from childhood. Parents are crucial for shaping their children’s behaviors, but many lack the knowledge and skills to provide optimal support for PA. The “Active 1 + FUN” intervention was designed to enhance PA of the whole family, and improve parenting methods of both fathers and mothers. Methods “Active 1 + FUN” is a family-based intervention designed using the tenets of self-determination theory. The intervention was designed to help parents support their children’s basic psychological needs for competence (by providing informational feedback and optimal challenges), autonomy (by exploring a variety of activities and reducing controlling behaviors), and relatedness (by increasing co-PA between parents and child). The intervention components include interactive workshops, activity sessions, physical activity homework, activity planning consultations, easy sports equipment, and online materials. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the intervention. A target sample of 204 Primary three to five students (8 to 11 years) and their parents will be randomly allocated to the experimental group or a wait-list control group. The experimental group will receive a ten-session intervention which spans approximately six months. The control group will receive intervention one year later. Children’s accelerometer-based leisure-time physical activity (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, at end of intervention period (6 months after baseline), and at follow-up (12 months after baseline). Qualitative interviews will be conducted to determine effective intervention components from the perspective of children and parents. We hypothesize that the intervention will increase parents’ and children’s activity behaviors and that children will experience higher levels of needs satisfaction with regard to physical activity participation. Discussion Physical activity interventions often target children only, but ones that also involve parents may be more beneficial. The “Active 1 + FUN” intervention will be organized and delivered by trained trainers. Consequently, this intervention could be scaled to a larger number of Hong Kong schools in the future and could impact a wider population of schoolchildren. Trial registration ANZCTR ACTRN12618001524280 . Registered 11 September 2018.

Relation between Perceived Barrier Profiles, Physical Literacy, Motivation and Physical Activity Behaviors among Parents with a Young Child

“…Such intervention design may fit the context of Hong Kong or other regions. A protocol study proposed that easy sport equipment, PA classes conducted in the school delivered by a coach cultivated in a train-the-trainer scheme, and provision of online PA materials for primary school children and their families in Hong Kong may alleviate the parental constraints for PA engagement [62]. Similar practices could be implemented in other feasibility studies.…”

Are the Parents’ and Their Children’s Physical Activity and Mode of Commuting Associated? Analysis by Gender and Age Group

“…Children’s PA habits are shaped by their parents, particularly in younger children compared with adolescents [ 9 ]. It has been estimated that children with active parents are three to four times more active than children with inactive parents [ 10 ].…”

Effects of the “MAMI Deporte®” Family Sports Program on Parents’ Motivation towards Sport Participation: A Randomized Controlled Intervention

“…For instance, declines in PA levels following the onset of motherhood was the main determining related to changes in PA levels in comparison with 25 other environmental, social, psychological and demographic factors [4]. Thus, prior research broadly suggests the development of family-based PA programs as an effective and useful strategy to increase and maintain PA levels of all family members, including parents [5,6].…”

“…Ad-hoc rule education, where the rules of the activities are defined by consensus 6. Education in adequate behavior models, which show how to correct, to celebrate a goal, to encourage opponents or to keep calm and controlled…”