Mother-Daughter Physical Activity Program to Increase Exercise in Latina Girls Ages 8 to 11 10-Week Community-Based Intervention Led by YMCA Staff Focus on Family Communication and Parenting Strategies

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether the mother-daughter intervention called Conmigo can increase physical activity levels in Latina preadolescent girls aged 8 to 11. The study targets families from lower-income and less-acculturated backgrounds, addressing the decline in physical activity during adolescence. It also explores how individual factors like mothers activity levels and family communication influence changes in physical activity over time. The trial compares two 10-week programs delivered at 18 elementary schools a physical activity promotion intervention and an attention-control program focused on healthy eating. Both are led by YMCA staff and involve weekly 2-hour sessions where mothers and daughters participate together. The physical activity group engages in discussions, goal-setting, and group exercise, while the control group focuses on dietary behavior strategies. Participants will be assessed using devices that measure physical activity at enrollment, 3, 9, and 15 months. Mothers and daughters attend weekly sessions, and researchers will evaluate changes in physical activity, mother-daughter communication, parenting practices, and dietary intake. The study includes long-term follow-up and qualitative interviews to understand how the program works and its potential for broader use.

A Multi-level Mother-daughter Physical Activity Intervention for Pre- Adolescent Latinas