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

Abstract Background Physical activity is related to many positive health outcomes, yet activity levels of many children are low. Researchers have suggested that family-based interventions may improve physical activity behaviors of both children and their parents. In this study, we evaluated the “Active 1 + FUN” program, which was designed based on tenets of self-determination theory. Intervention components included free sporting equipment, ten coach-led workshops and activity sessions, and one booster session. Methods We evaluated the intervention program using a randomized controlled trial. One hundred seventy-one families were randomly allocated to either an experimental group or a wait-list control group. Participants were exposed to program contents over a nine-month period, while families in the control did not receive any form of intervention. Measured constructs included moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, co-physical activity behaviors, fundamental movement skills, BMI, and several self-reported questionnaire outcomes. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to compare changes in measured outcomes across the two groups. Results No significant intervention effects were found for children’s and parents’ accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, or their co-physical activity. However, in terms of children’s fundamental movement skills, a significant Time*Group interaction (B = 0.52, 95% CI [0.07, 0.96] for Times 1 to 2; B = 0.24, 95% CI [0.01, 0.48] for Times 1 to 3) in favor of the experimental group was found. Conclusions Results suggested that the “Active 1 + FUN” program was effective in improving children’s fundamental movement skills. Additional research is needed to examine how family-based initiatives could effectively improve physical activity behaviors too. Trial registration ANZCTR, ACTRN12618001524280. Registered 11 September 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375660.

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Leveraging family dynamics to increase the effectiveness of incentives for physical activity: the FIT-FAM randomized controlled trial

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s12966-020-01018-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Eric Andrew Finkelstein ◽

Robyn Su May Lim ◽

Dianne Stanton Ward ◽

Kelly R. Evenson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Primary Endpoint ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Health Concern ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Family Based ◽

Parent Child

Abstract Background Insufficient physical activity is a global public health concern. Research indicates incentives can increase physical activity levels of children but has not tested whether incentives targeted at children can be leveraged to increase physical activity levels of their parents. This study evaluates whether a novel incentive design linking children’s incentives to both their and their parent’s physical activity levels can increase parent’s physical activity. Methods We conducted a two-arm, parallel, open-labelled randomized controlled trial in Singapore where parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to either (1) rewards to child contingent on child’s physical activity (child-based) or (2) rewards to child contingent on both child’s and parent’s physical activity (family-based). Parents had to be English-speaking, computer-literate, non-pregnant, full-time employees, aged 25–65 years, and with a participating child aged 7–11 years. Parent-child dyads were randomized within strata (self-reported low vs high weekly physical activity) into study arms in a 1:1 ratio. Participants were given activity trackers to assess daily steps. The outcome of interest was the between-arm difference in the change from baseline in parent’s mean steps/day measured by accelerometry at months 6 and 12 (primary endpoint). Results Overall, 159 and 157 parent-child dyads were randomized to the child-based or family-based arms, respectively. Outcomes were evaluated on an intent-to-treat basis. At month 6, there was a 613 steps/day (95% CI: 54–1171) differential in favour of family-based parents. At month 12, our primary endpoint, the differential was reduced to 369 steps/day (95% CI: − 88–1114) and was no longer statistically significant. Conclusions Our findings suggest that novel incentive designs that take advantage of group dynamics may be effective. However, in this design, the effectiveness of the family-based incentive to increase parent’s physical activity was not sustained through one year. Trial registration NCT02516345 (ClinicalTrials.gov) registered on August 5, 2015.

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Family-Based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Enhancing Physical Activity and Motor Competence in 4–7-Year-Old Children

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0141124 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e0141124 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Arto Laukkanen ◽

Arto Juhani Pesola ◽

Risto Heikkinen ◽

Arja Kaarina Sääkslahti ◽

Taija Finni

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Family Based ◽

Cluster Randomized

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Correction: Family-Based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Enhancing Physical Activity and Motor Competence in 4-7-Year-Old Children

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0143987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e0143987

Author(s):

Arto Laukkanen ◽

Arto J. Pesola ◽

Risto Heikkinen ◽

Arja Kaarina Sääkslahti ◽

Taija Finni

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Family Based ◽

Cluster Randomized

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Leveraging Family Dynamics to Increase the Effectiveness of Incentives for Physical Activity: The FIT-FAM Randomized Controlled Trial

10.21203/rs.3.rs-21239/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Finkelstein ◽

Robyn Su May Lim ◽

Dianne Stanton Ward ◽

Kelly R. Evenson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Primary Endpoint ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Health Concern ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Family Based ◽

Parent Child

Abstract Background: Insufficient physical activity is a global public health concern. Research indicates incentives can increase physical activity levels of children but has not tested whether incentives targeted at children can be leveraged to increase physical activity levels of their parents. This study evaluates whether a novel incentive design linking children’s incentives to both their and their parent’s physical activity levels can increase parent’s physical activity.Methods: We conducted a two-arm, parallel, open-labelled randomized controlled trial in Singapore where parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to either (1) rewards to child contingent on child’s physical activity (child-based) or (2) rewards to child contingent on both child’s and parent’s physical activity (family-based). Parents had to be English-speaking, computer-literate, non-pregnant, full-time employees, aged 25–65 years, and with a participating child aged 7–11 years. Parent-child dyads were randomized within strata (self-reported low vs high weekly physical activity) into study arms in a 1:1 ratio. Participants were given activity trackers to assess daily steps. The outcome of interest was the between-arm difference in the change from baseline in parent’s mean steps/day measured by accelerometry at months 6 and 12 (primary endpoint).Results: Overall, 159 and 157 parent-child dyads were randomized to the child-based or family-based arms, respectively. Outcomes were evaluated on an intent-to-treat basis. At month 6, there was a 613 steps/day (95% CI: 54–1171) differential in favour of family-based parents. At month 12, our primary endpoint, the differential was reduced to 369 steps/day (95% CI: -88–1114) and was no longer statistically significant.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that novel incentive designs that take advantage of group dynamics may be effective. However, in this design, the effectiveness of the family-based incentive to increase parent’s physical activity was not sustained through one year.Trial registration: NCT02516345 (ClinicalTrials.gov) registered on August 5, 2015

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Leveraging Family Dynamics to Increase the Effectiveness of Incentives for Physical Activity: The FIT-FAM Randomized Controlled Trial

10.21203/rs.3.rs-21239/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Finkelstein ◽

Robyn Su May Lim ◽

Dianne Stanton Ward ◽

Kelly R. Evenson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Full Time ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Family Based ◽

Intent To Treat ◽

Computer Literate ◽

Parent Child

Abstract Background In Singapore, 37% of adults are insufficiently active despite widespread opportunities for physical activity (PA). Research shows that PA can be increased by use of group-based extrinsic incentives. This study evaluates whether a novel incentive design linking children’s incentives to both their own and their parent’s PA (measured via pedometers) can increase parents’ PA without compromising children’s PA. Methods We conducted a two-arm, parallel, open-labelled randomized controlled trial where parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to either (1) rewards to the child contingent on child’s PA (child-based) or (2) rewards to the child contingent on both child’s and parent’s PA (family-based). Parents had to be English-speaking, computer-literate, non-pregnant, full-time employees, aged 25–65 years, and with a participating child aged 7–11 years. Parent-child dyads were randomized within strata (self-reported low vs high weekly PA) into study arms in a 1:1 ratio. Participants were given pedometers to assess daily steps. The primary outcome was the between-arm difference in the change from baseline in parent’s mean steps/day measured by accelerometry at months 6 and 12. Results 159 and 157 parent-child dyads were randomized to the child-based or family-based arms, respectively, and all with outcomes evaluated an intent-to-treat perspective. At month 6, there was a statistically significant 613 steps/day (95% CI: 54–1171) differential in favour of family-based parents. At month 12, the differential was reduced to 369 steps/day (95% CI: -88–1114) and no longer statistically significant. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence that family-based incentive strategies have the potential to improve outcomes at no additional cost but also indicate that more research is needed to identify strategies that encourage long-term behavior change for both parents and children.

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