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NCT Number: NCT03145688

Family Habit Physical Activity Study

The purpose of this study is to examine physical activity habit formation in parents and if this can increase moderate to vigorous physical activity behavior in their children over six months. The Primary Research Question is:

Does the habit formation condition result in increased moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity of the child compared to the control (education) and education + planning conditions at six months? Hypothesis: Child physical activity will be higher for the habit formation condition in comparison to the more standard physical activity education and planning conditions at six months.

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Activity Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

6 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Behavioural Medicine Lab, University of Victoria

Victoria, British Columbia, V8P-5C2, Canada

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Ryan Rhodes, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sandy Courtnall

CONTACT

[email protected]

250 472 5288

About this study

Secondary Research Questions

  • Does the habit formation condition improve child health-related quality of life, and health-related fitness outcomes compared to the control and planning conditions at six months? Hypothesis: Child health-related fitness and quality of life will be higher for the habit formation condition in comparison to the control and planning conditions.
  • Can group differences among behavioural, and health-related fitness outcomes be explained through a mediation model? Hypothesis: The covariance of the assigned conditions (habit formation, planning + education, education control) on child physical activity will be explained by parental support habit, and through the use of consistency and cues regulation strategies (i.e., manipulation check). In turn, the covariance between support habit and health-related outcomes will be explained by physical activity among conditions. The habit formation condition will not affect parental support intentions or underlying outcome expectations (benefits of physical activity) for support of child physical activity because its effect on behavior is to tie initial intentions to behavioural action or to work independent of goals and intentions.
  • Is there an intergenerational, seasonal, or gender difference across primary outcomes by assigned condition? Hypothesis: Parents in the habit formation condition will show higher physical activity via some activities being performed with their children in comparison to the other conditions. No differences in gender or season are hypothesized but these are exploratory research questions because there is limited research at present [28] to make any definitive statement.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • parents with children between the ages of 6 and 12 years
  • self-report low family physical activity
  • target child is not meeting Canada's Physical Activity guidelines

Exclusion criteria

  • participant is unsafe to participate in physical activity as determined by answers to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Treatment and study plan

Family physical activity planning

Behavioral

Families will receive the same guidelines as the standard education control group but will also be provided with family physical activity planning material. This material will include a skill training content workbook on how to plan for family physical activity. The material includes a brainstorming exercise for parents where they list physical activities they think their children have found fun in the past, as well as activities that they would find enjoyable to do as a family. We will provide this material as prompts/suggestions. Families will be instructed to plan for "when," "where," "how," and "what" physical activity will be performed & then track their physical activity. These aspects will be re-introduced and discussed at week 6 and week 12 in booster sessions

Family Physical Activity Habit Formation

Behavioral

Families will receive the same content as the education control condition and the physical activity planning condition but with additional material on creating physical activity support habits. A key component of the habit section will be based on planning for context-dependent repetition, with pointers on how to maintain repetition as habit forms. The importance of creating cues for parental support of child physical activity is then outlined. Cues will also be considered factors that a) can precede the support activity but b) not be present very often when the activity is not to be performed. We will suggest that cues that have repeated exposure during times when family physical activity is not present Parents will then be asked to brainstorm and create a plan of consistency and cues with the workbooks provided. These aspects will be re-introduced and discussed at week 6 and week 12 in booster sessions.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in children's physical activity to 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline & 6 months

    Children's physical activity will be quantified by accelerometry. Children will wear an accelerometer for a minimum of 10 hours per day for 7 days at baseline and 6 months. Additionally this measure will assess intermediate outcomes at 6 weeks and 3 months.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in personal physical activity to six months (child PA)

    Time frame: Baseline & 6 months

    The target child will complete a modified version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) to assess habitual moderate to vigorous physical activity. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (LSI) will be used to measure parent-reported child physical activity. Questions assess intensity, frequency, and duration of physical activity in an average week. These measures will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.

  2. Change from baseline in self-reported family based physical activity to six months

    Time frame: Baseline & 6 months

    A modified Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (LSI) will be used to measure parent reported family physical activity. Questions ask about frequency and duration of structured vs unstructured physical activity performed as a family. Additionally, this measure will assess intermediate outcomes at 6 weeks and 3 months

  3. Change from baseline in weight at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Weight will be measured in kilograms using a scale as per standard anthropometric procedures. Change in weight will be examined from baseline to 6 months (post-intervention). Weight measurement will also contribute to change in BMI.

  4. Change from baseline in height at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Height will be measured in centimeters using a stadiometer as per standard anthropometric procedures. Change in height will be examined from baseline to 6 months (post-intervention). Height measurement will also contribute to change in BMI.

  5. Change from baseline in waist circumference at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Waist circumference will be measured in centimeters using a tape measuer as per standard anthropometric procedures. Change in waist circumference will be examined from baseline to 6 months (post-intervention).

  6. Change from baseline in BMI at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Change in BMI will be examined from baseline to 6 months (post intervention) using height and weight measurements in the following formula: (weight in kg)/(height in meters)^2.

  7. Change from baseline in grip strength at 6 months (MSK fitness)

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Grip strength of the target child will be measured using the Canadian CSEP standardized protocols. Change in grip strength from baseline to 6 months (i.e., post-intervention) will be examined

  8. Change from baseline in sit and reach flexibility at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Sit and reach flexibility of the target child will be measured using the Canadian CSEP standardized protocols. Change in sit and reach flexibility from baseline to 6 months (i.e., post-intervention) will be examined

  9. Change from baseline in plank test time at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Sit and reach flexibility of the target child will be measured using the Canadian CSEP standardized protocols. Change in plank test time from baseline to 6 months (i.e., post-intervention) will be examined

  10. Change from baseline in cardiovascular fitness at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    The Leger Shuttle Run will be used to assess cardiovascular fitness for target child. Change in cardiovascular fitness from baseline to 6 months (i.e., post-intervention) will be examined.

  11. Change from baseline in parent support of child's physical activity at 6 weeks

    Time frame: baseline and 6 weeks

    The Activity Support Scale for Multiple Groups (ACTS-MG) will be used to measure parent support of child PA.

  12. Change from baseline in parent support of child's physical activity at 3 months

    Time frame: baseline and 3 months

    The Activity Support Scale for Multiple Groups (ACTS-MG) will be used to measure parent support of child PA.

  13. Change from baseline in parent support of child's physical activity at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    The Activity Support Scale for Multiple Groups (ACTS-MG) will be used to measure parent support of child PA.

  14. Change from baseline in parent support habits of child physical activity at 6 months (a)

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Self report habit strength index will be used to measure parental support habit for child Physical Activity. This tool measures habit strength and automaticity at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months.

Other outcomes

  1. TERTIARY OUTCOME - Change from baseline in personal physical activity to 6 months (parent)

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Tertiary Outcome Measure The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (LSI) will be used to measure self - reported physical activity at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. Questions assess intensity, frequency, and duration of physical activity in an average week.

  2. TERTIARY OUTCOME - Change from baseline in health-related quality of life at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline & 6 months

    Tertiary Outcome Measure Quality of life will be assessed with parents using the 12 item Short Form Health Survey. Scores can range from 0-100 with a higher score indicating better health. Change in health-related quality of life from baseline to 6 months (i.e., post-intervention) will be examined with intermediate time points of 6 weeks and 3 months as well.

  3. TERTIARY OUTCOME - Change from baseline in family functioning at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Tertiary Outcome Measure Family Environment Scale is used to assess family functioning at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Total score can range from 0 (total agreement between family members) to 90 (total disagreement between family members).

  4. TERTIARY OUTCOME - Change from baseline in motivations (MPAC constructs) at 6 weeks

    Time frame: baseline & 6 weeks

    Tertiary Outcome Measure Motivations for supporting child based physical activity will be measured using the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour & Self Determination Theory including affective attitude, instrumental attitude, perceived behavioural control, behavioural regulation, intention, and identity. These measures are all part of the Multi Process Action Control Framework (MPAC).

  5. TERTIARY OUTCOME - Change from baseline in motivations (MPAC constructs) at 3 months

    Time frame: baseline and 3 months

    Tertiary Outcome Measure Motivations for supporting child based physical activity will be measured using the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour & Self Determination Theory including affective attitude, instrumental attitude, perceived behavioural control, behavioural regulation, intention, and identity. These measures are all part of the Multi Process Action Control Framework (MPAC).

  6. TERTIARY OUTCOME - Change from baseline in motivations (MPAC constructs) at 6 months

    Time frame: baseline and 6 months

    Tertiary Outcome Measure Motivations for supporting child based physical activity will be measured using the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour & Self Determination Theory including affective attitude, instrumental attitude, perceived behavioural control, behavioural regulation, intention, and identity. These measures are all part of the Multi Process Action Control Framework (MPAC).

  7. Change from baseline to 6 months in cue consistency (manipulation check)

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Cue consistency will be assessed using a 6 item survey. Answers range from not at all true (1) to very true (7) with a higher score indicating greater cue consistency. Changes in cue consistency will be examined at 6 months with intermediate time points of 6 weeks and 3 months.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Victoria

Other

Collaborators

  • Dalhousie University
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
  • King's College London
  • University of Alberta
  • University of British Columbia

Registry information

Official study title

Promoting Habit Formation in Family Physical Activity

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 9, 2017
Registry last updated
Apr 1, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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