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NCT Number: NCT05794789

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Activity Behavior Body Weight Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Motor Activity Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pediatric Obesity Signs and Symptoms Social Behavior Social Identification Social Identity

Age range

6 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Psychology of Exercise, Health, and Physical Activity (PEHPA) Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

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)

Treatment and study plan

Social Identity

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

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

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Parent-child intergenerational activity via seven-day accelerometry

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    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.

  2. Parent-child intergenerational activity measured via parent self-report

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    For self-reported PA, the the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire will be used.

  3. Body Composition - Weight

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Weight (kg)

  4. Body Composition - Height

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Height (cm)

  5. Body Composition - Waist Circumference

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Waist circumference (cm)

  6. Body Composition - Percentage Body Fat

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Percentage body fat will be measured using a bioelectric impedance scale

  7. Cardiovascular Fitness (ie: predicted maximal aerobic power)

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Will be assessed during a submaximal exercise test called the mCAFT Step Test

  8. Musculoskeletal Fitness

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured using grip strength

  9. Musculoskeletal Endurance

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured doing curl ups and push ups

  10. Musculoskeletal Power

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured doing vertical jump test

  11. Musculoskeletal Flexibility

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured doing sit and reach test

  12. The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Instrumental Attitude

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

  13. The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Affective Judgements

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

  14. The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Perceived Capability

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

  15. The Multi-Process Action Control (MPAC) Constructs - Perceived Opportunity

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

  16. Social Identity

    Time frame: Baseline - 6 months

    Measured by standardized measurement scale - 1-7 Likert-type scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Evie Streight, MSc.

CONTACT

[email protected]

250 472 5288

Sandy Courtnall

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Victoria

Other

Collaborators

  • Diabetes Canada

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 3, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 3, 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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