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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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The secondary research questions will include: 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. 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. 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.

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

Conditions
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Physical Activity, Social Identity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Social Identity


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 12 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: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: PA education and planning condition<br>This group will receive sessions and information-based booklet and series of worksheets that provide a tangible knowledge translation product for the family. The material will consist of Canada's PA guidelines recommending 60 minutes of MVPA a day and a breakdown of ways for the parent to help their child achieve this PA, outlining three main domains of parental support (encouragement, logistical support, and PA together). The material also contains information about the benefits of PA for the child and how to plan for family PA. The material specifically includes a brainstorming exercise for parents where they list physical activities they think their children have found fun in the past. The investigators will provide this material as prompts/suggestions. This list helps create the template for PA planning by contextualizing what the parents would like to do with their kids. An additional two sessions will include education and planning material related to family healthy eating. | |
| Experimental: Identity formation condition<br>This group will receive the same content as the education+planning comparison condition but with two additional coaching sessions. The session will include 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 that align with these approaches and are included in the coaching session include identity salience, identity similarity, as well as identity fit and contrast. 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. | Behavioral: Social Identity<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| Body Composition - Weight | Weight (kg) | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Body Composition - Height | Height (cm) | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Body Composition - Waist Circumference | Waist circumference (cm) | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Body Composition - Percentage Body Fat | Percentage body fat will be measured using a bioelectric impedance scale | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Cardiovascular Fitness (ie: predicted maximal aerobic power) | Will be assessed during a submaximal exercise test called the mCAFT Step Test | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Musculoskeletal Fitness | Measured using grip strength | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Musculoskeletal Endurance | Measured doing curl ups and push ups | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Musculoskeletal Power | Measured doing vertical jump test | Baseline - 6 months | 
| Musculoskeletal Flexibility | Measured doing sit and reach test | Baseline - 6 months | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| Social Identity | Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) | Baseline - 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), Childhood obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Identity formation