Improving Family Cohesion Through Physical Activity in Children Aged 6 to 12 Comparing Identity, Self-Regulation, and Education Interventions

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether adding identity-building and self-regulation training to basic healthy-living education can help families with inactive children aged 6 to 12 become more cohesive and physically active. The study compares three groups one receiving identity, self-regulation, and education one receiving self-regulation and education and one receiving education only. The main goal is to see which approach improves family cohesion the most over six months. The study involves three intervention programs. The Education group receives information about physical activity, sleep hygiene, and healthy eating. The Self Regulation group gets the same education plus training on planning family physical activity, including when, where, and how to be active. The Identity group receives all Education and Self Regulation content plus activities to strengthen parents physical activity support identity and the familys shared active identity, including reflection, role-modeling, and visualization exercises. Participants will attend three online workshops at the start and two booster sessions at 6 weeks and 3 months. They will complete online questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months, and take part in an exit interview at 6 months. Researchers will measure family cohesion, family organization and flexibility, childrens moderate to vigorous physical activity, parent-child co-physical activity, and parental support. The study runs until March 2028 and includes safety monitoring and behavior tracking throughout.

All in the Family: Promoting Family Function Through Physical Activity