Promoting Child Physical Activity Through Family Social Identity Formation A Study for Families with Children Ages 6 to 12 to Increase Active Play and Exercise

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how forming a physical activity PA identity within families can promote long-term physical activity among children aged 6 to 12 years. The study compares an identity formation approach, which includes education and planning plus additional coaching, to a standard education and planning condition. The main goal is to see if children in the identity formation group increase their moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity MVPA more over six months. Participants are divided into two groups. One group receives sessions, informational booklets, and worksheets based on Canadas PA guidelines, focusing on how parents can support their childs physical activity through encouragement, logistical help, and doing activities together. This group also receives materials on healthy family eating. The other group receives the same materials plus two extra coaching sessions that include family PA identity activities, such as assigning fun PA roles to family members and creating family PA items like t-shirts and photos, to strengthen social identity related to physical activity. During the six-month study, researchers will monitor childrens MVPA at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Additional assessments include parent-child activity tracking through accelerometers and self-reports, body measurements, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness tests, and social identity questionnaires. The study aims to understand how family support and identity impact childrens physical activity and health outcomes, with the University of Victoria leading the research.

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