Promoting Sport Participation During Early Parenthood

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The primary objective of this investigation is to test the efficacy of two sport participation formats (individual sport, team sport) on key psychosocial outcomes compared to a non-sport condition among parents of young children who were not participating in sport at baseline of the study. Research of this type is important because parents represent a group dealing with numerous challenges and this is a period of time shown to have the greatest decline in physical activity. Furthermore, parents could reap great benefits in psychological health through the increase in physical activity and sport participation. It is hypothesized that participation will be predicted by sports commitment as per the tenets of the Sport Commitment Model, and commitment will be predicted primarily by enjoyment (+), social constraints from family obligations/involvement alternatives (-), followed by social involvement opportunities/personal investments (+).

Detailed Description
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This study is exploring the impact team sports has on psychological well-being of parents compared to individual sports or personal time. Our research questions include: Does 1) team sports participation (choice-based from existing adult recreation leagues in greater Victoria) increase psychosocial outcomes (quality of life, relationship satisfaction, social functioning, perceived parenting capability, enjoyment) compared with 2) individual sport participation (choice-based from adult recreation alternatives in greater Victoria), and 3) a control condition? Hypothesis: The team sports condition will show significantly larger changes in psychosocial outcomes compared to the two other conditions after three-months of participation (primary end-point). Furthermore, the individual sports condition will show significantly larger changes in psychosocial outcomes compared to the control condition after three-months of participation. Secondary Research Questions Can participation in the team sports and individual sports conditions be explained by the constructs of the Sport Commitment model [21]? Hypothesis: Participation will be predicted by sports commitment as per the tenets of the Sport Commitment Model, and commitment will be predicted primarily by enjoyment (+), social constraints from family obligations/involvement alternatives (-), followed by social involvement opportunities/personal investments (+). Can group differences among parents with regard to these participation and psychosocial outcomes be explained through a mediation model? Hypothesis: The covariance of the assigned conditions on psychosocial outcomes will be explained by sport participation. In turn, the covariance between participation and assigned conditions will be explained by salient underlying motives from the Sport Commitment Model. In particular, enjoyment will explain the differences between both sport conditions but the better psychosocial outcomes from team sports will be explained by the additional social involvement opportunities. Is there a seasonal, gender, dual/single parent, age of child, or type of sport difference across primary outcomes by assigned condition? Hypothesis: These are exploratory research questions with no pre-set hypothesis. Both sport conditions may have participation lowered by weather conditions in the winter. Men may participate in sport more due to lower child-rearing expectations but there is limited research to support this conjecture at this time.

Official Title
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Promoting Sport Participation During Early Parenthood

Conditions
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Parents, Well-being

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Team sports
* Behavioral: Individual sport condition
* Behavioral: Night out


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Men and women with children under the age of 13 who live in the Greater Victoria area Must not have participated in any organized sport within the last month Exclusion Criteria: Parents who do not have a child under the age of 13 Parents who have or are currently playing an organized sport Parents under the age of 18

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Personal time condition<br>People randomized to this group will be asked to go on a night out with no kids (i.e. dinner, or a movie) once a month. | Behavioral: Night out<br>* Participants in this group will be asked to go out to have a weekly night out or personal time of choice, such as dinner or a movie (only restrictions are they cannot go do a sport or physical activity and time must be spent without children).<br>|
| Experimental: Individual sport condition<br>People randomized to this group will select an individual sport. They will be asked to participate in this individual sport for three months. | Behavioral: Individual sport condition<br>* Participants will choose from a list of individual sports.<br>|
| Experimental: Team sport condition<br>People randomized to this group will select a team sport. They will be asked to participate in the team sport for three months (length of the team sport season). | Behavioral: Team sports<br>* Participants will choose from a list of team sports and will be signed up with the team.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Parental Quality of Life | Short Form 12 Health Survey will be administered in the baseline questionnaire | Baseline, six weeks and three months | 
| Change in life satisfaction | Satisfaction with Life Scale will be examined at baseline. Citation: Diener E., Emmons R. A., Larsen R. J., Griffin S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75. | Baseline, six weeks, and three months | 
| Change in Parenting Stress | Berry, JD, & Jones, W,H, (1995) The Parental Stress Scale : initial psychometric evidence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 12, 463 - 472. | Baseline, six weeks and three months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sport Commitment Model Questionnaire (Scanlan, 1993) | Questionnaire measure from Scanlan, 1993 | baseline, six-weeks, three months | 
| Family functioning questionnaire | 35 item questionnaire from Beavers, W. R., & Hampson, R. B. (1990). Successful families: Assessment and intervention. New York: Norton. | baseline, six weeks, three months | 
| Relationship Satisfaction questionnaire | Relationship Assessment Scale Hendrick, S. S., Dicke, A., & Hendrick, C. (1998). The relationship assessment scale. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15(1), 137-142. HarperCollins. | baseline, six weeks, three months |