Establishing Effectiveness of a Community-based, Physical Activity Program for Fathers and Daughters: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background The ‘Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered’ (DADEE) program significantly improved physical activity levels of fathers and their daughters in an efficacy trial. However, the effectiveness of interventions when delivered in real-world settings needs to be established. Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of the DADEE intervention when delivered in community settings by trained facilitators. Methods We conducted a two-arm RCT, (baseline and 3-months post-intervention assessments), in Newcastle, Australia. In 2016, 155 fathers (27–60 years) and 189 primary-school-aged daughters (4–12 years) (n = 344) were randomly allocated to the intervention (78 fathers, 95 daughters) or waitlist-control (77 fathers, 94 daughters) groups. Trained facilitators delivered the 9-week DADEE program (weekly sessions plus home-based tasks). Primary outcomes were fathers’ and daughters’ physical activity (steps/day). Secondary outcomes included screen-time, weight status, daughters’ fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency, perceived sports competence, and fathers’ parenting practices. Effects were assessed using linear mixed models. Results Primary outcome follow-up data were collected from 88% of fathers and 89% of daughters. Significant group-by-time differences in mean daily steps were found for fathers’ (adjusted difference = +1,638; 95% CI: 833, 2,443, d = 0.7) and daughters’ (adjusted difference = +1,023 steps/day; 95% CI: 259, 1,787; d = 0.4) physical activity. Significant effects were observed for daughters’ screen-time, FMS, and some parenting practices. No significant effects were identified for weight status, or fathers’screen-time or self-reported MVPA. Program attendance, satisfaction and fidelity were very high. Conclusion This study established the effectiveness of the DADEE intervention when delivered in community settings by trained facilitators. Importantly, the findings were comparable to those of the efficacy RCT delivered by the research team. To maximize public health benefits, a larger-scale dissemination of the program appears warranted. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12616001270404 Human Research Ethics Committee: H-2014-0330

FATHER FIGURES IN SELECTED SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS

Shakespeare and his works are widely analyzed and studied, however, you can always find something to discuss about or study, since Shakespeare’s works are always challenging and attractive. This time my focus is on the father figures that appear in some of his greatest works, like King Hamlet and Polonius in Hamlet, Barbantio in Othello, Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, King Lear and Gloucester in King Lear, Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, etc. Actually, this paper aims to give an insight and compare the major characters as fathers. It covers an analysis of father-son relationship and the father-daughter relationship, fathers’ attitude towards their children, the influence they have in the life of their children, their love and authority, expectations, their image in the eyes of their children and so on. Each and every one of these characters has a specific relationship with their child; they are all authoritative, some more and some less, they are proud and they influence their children’s lives by accepting their decisions or not, by requesting very important and delicate tasks from them, by deciding themselves for their children, etc. Focusing on the issue of authority, power and ownership, the article aims at showing how stereotypical social and gender roles resonate with various political and social contexts of power. However, the paper will also analyze the dreams, duty, as well as defiance children have, show or express towards their fathers. A special importance in this paper is given to the relationships between fathers and daughters, having in mind the social position women had at that time, the role they had in their families etc. In these relationships, it is clearly that there is more likely to find a tyrannical possessiveness in excess of normal parental affection in the father's behaviour—or, as the case may be, a capriciousness, coldness, or disloyalty unwarranted by the daughter's exemplary conduct, which in fact results in the creation or not of a father figure in these plays. Namely, it is clear that Shakespeare depicted the struggle and entanglement of a father character who realizes the lonely emptiness he has to face after fulfilling the happiness of his child. As I mentioned, no matter the uniqueness of these relationships that are presented between parents and children, we can find some similarities as well, as many of the plays depict the same situations but with similar circumstances. Consequently, I hope that this paper will be just a small contribution in the field of literature and that future scholars will find it useful in their further studies and analysis of Shakespeare’s works, which is really a never-ending ‘struggle.’