"We Are an Active Family": Promoting Child Physical Activity Through Social Identity Formation in the Family System

Physical Activity Clinical Trial

Official title:

"We Are an Active Family": Promoting Child Physical Activity Through Social Identity Formation in the Family System

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05794789
• Other study ID #: 23-0022
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 10, 2023
• Est. completion date: March 31, 2026

Study information

• Verified date: September 2023
• Source: University of Victoria
• Contact: Evie Streight, MSc.
• Phone: 250 472 5288
• Email: bml[@]uvic.ca
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of our study is to explore the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) identity formation in the family system as a promotor of long-term PA. The primary research question is:

Does a family identity formation condition (with education+planning) result in increased child moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) compared to a standard comparison education and planning condition at six months? Hypothesis: Child MVPA will be higher for the identity formation condition in comparison to the more standard PA education+planning condition at six months.

Description:

The secondary research questions will include:

1. Does the identity formation condition improve child health-related fitness outcomes compared to the education and planning condition at six months? Hypothesis: Child health-related fitness will be higher for the identity formation condition in comparison to the education and planning condition.

2. Can group differences among behavioural, and health-related fitness outcomes be explained through a mediation model? Hypothesis: The covariance of the assigned conditions (identity formation, planning + education) on child MVPA will be explained by parental support, and through parental support identity (i.e., manipulation check). In turn, the covariance between support and health-related outcomes will be explained by MVPA among conditions. In the case of null outcomes for research question #1, the investigators will instead explore a prediction model of these variables rather than a mediation model.

3. Is there an intergenerational, seasonal, or sex difference across primary outcomes by assigned condition? Hypothesis: Parents in the identity formation condition will show higher physical activity via some activities being performed with their children (as part of social identity) in comparison to the other condition. No differences in child sex or season are hypothesized based on past research.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 148
• Est. completion date: March 31, 2026
• Est. primary completion date: March 31, 2026
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 6 Years to 12 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants will be at least one parent with at least one child between the ages of 6 and 12 years.

• Families (parents and/or guardians and children) residing in Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan, Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, British Columbia.

• Children that participate in <60 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA)

Exclusion Criteria:

• If child is meeting the current physical activity guidelines >=60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.

• If participant does not pass Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Physical Activity
• Social Identity

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Social Identity
This group will receive the same content as the education+planning as well as two additional sessions. This includes short overviews of the benefits of PA as a family, brainstorming how a family can each assist each other in PA, and an activity for developing a family PA action plan. Behavior change techniques such as identity salience, identity similarity, and identity fit and contrast are included in the coaching session include. This will be supplemented by an organization of fun family PA roles for all members (e.g., activity planner, goal setter, supporter, etc.) to instill involvement as well as items (creation of a family PA t-shirt, family PA photos and display, etc.) to instill distinctiveness, which is a central feature of a social identity. Worksheets and discussion will be included. The second session will involve only the parent(s) to focus on parental support identity and the content is based on the behavior change principles of self-identity theory.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Psychology of Exercise, Health, and Physical Activity (PEHPA) Laboratory, University of British Columbia	Vancouver	British Columbia
Canada	Behavioural Medicine Lab, University of Victoria	Victoria	British Columbia

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Victoria	Diabetes Canada

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change from baseline in children's moderate to vigorous physical activity to 6 months	Children's physical activity will be quantified by accelerometry. Children will wear an accelerometer for a minimum of 6 hours per day for 7 days at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.	Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months
Secondary	Parent-child intergenerational activity via seven-day accelerometry	Accelerometer model has a Bluetooth proximity detection feature that can determine the presence (e.g., same room in a house, at the park together) or absence of close proximity between two accelerometers. The outcome variable will be average minutes per day parents and children were both engaging in physical activity at the same time while in close proximity.	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Parent-child intergenerational activity measured via parent self-report	For self-reported PA, the the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire will be used.	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Body Composition - Weight	Weight (kg)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Body Composition - Height	Height (cm)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Body Composition - Waist Circumference	Waist circumference (cm)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Body Composition - Percentage Body Fat	Percentage body fat will be measured using a bioelectric impedance scale	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Cardiovascular Fitness (ie: predicted maximal aerobic power)	Will be assessed during a submaximal exercise test called the mCAFT Step Test	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Musculoskeletal Fitness	Measured using grip strength	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Musculoskeletal Endurance	Measured doing curl ups and push ups	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Musculoskeletal Power	Measured doing vertical jump test	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Musculoskeletal Flexibility	Measured doing sit and reach test	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Instrumental Attitude	Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Affective Judgements	Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Perceived Capability	Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Perceived Opportunity	Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)	Baseline - 6 months
Secondary	Social Identity	Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)	Baseline - 6 months