title: Pilot study of a family physical activity planning intervention among parents and their children.
abstract: Physical activity interventions among youth have resulted in modest outcomes; thus, there is a need to increase the theoretical fidelity of interventions and hone pilot work before embarking on large scale trials. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a planning intervention in comparison to a standard condition on intergenerational physical activity in families with young children. Inactive families (N = 85) were randomized to either a standard condition (received physical activity guidelines and a local municipal healthy active living guide) or the intervention (physical activity guidelines, local municipal healthy active living guide + planning material) after completing a baseline questionnaire package. Sixty-five families (standard condition n = 34; intervention condition n = 31) completed the 4 week follow-up questionnaire package. Complete cases and intention to treat analyses showed that the planning intervention resulted in higher self-reported family physical activity compared to the standard condition and this was due to an increase in unstructured family activities over the 4 weeks. The results are promising and suggest that theoretical fidelity targeting parent regulation of family activity may be a helpful approach to increasing weekly energy expenditure.
authors: Behavioural Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010, STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8 W 3N4, Canada. rhodes@uvic.ca
authors: Ryan E
authors: RE
authors: Rhodes
authors: Patti-Jean
authors: PJ
authors: Naylor
authors: Heather A
authors: HA
authors: McKay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome