Improving children's fundamental movement skills through a family-based physical activity program: results from the "Active 1 + FUN" randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is related to many positive health outcomes, yet activity levels of many children are low. Researchers have suggested that family-based interventions may improve physical activity behaviors of both children and their parents. In this study, we evaluated the "Active 1 + FUN" program, which was designed based on tenets of self-determination theory. Intervention components included free sporting equipment, ten coach-led workshops and activity sessions, and one booster session. METHODS: We evaluated the intervention program using a randomized controlled trial. One hundred seventy-one families were randomly allocated to either an experimental group or a wait-list control group. Participants were exposed to program contents over a nine-month period, while families in the control did not receive any form of intervention. Measured constructs included moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, co-physical activity behaviors, fundamental movement skills, BMI, and several self-reported questionnaire outcomes. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to compare changes in measured outcomes across the two groups. RESULTS: No significant intervention effects were found for children's and parents' accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, or their co-physical activity. However, in terms of children's fundamental movement skills, a significant Time*Group interaction (B = 0.52, 95% CI [0.07, 0.96] for Times 1 to 2; B = 0.24, 95% CI [0.01, 0.48] for Times 1 to 3) in favor of the experimental group was found. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggested that the "Active 1 + FUN" program was effective in improving children's fundamental movement skills. Additional research is needed to examine how family-based initiatives could effectively improve physical activity behaviors too. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR, ACTRN12618001524280. Registered 11 September 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375660 .

Mothers' Goals Influence Their Responses to Children's Performance: An Experimental Study in the United States and Hong Kong.

This research examined the role of mothers' self-worth and self-improvement goals in their responses to children's performance in the United States (80% European American) and Hong Kong (100% Chinese). Mothers (N = 330) were induced to prioritize self-worth or self-improvement among children (Mage = 10.24 years; 48% girls) . Mothers induced to prioritize self-worth (vs. self-improvement) used more success-oriented responses in both regions (ds = 0.53 and 0.35). Mothers induced to prioritize self-improvement (vs. self-worth) used more failure-oriented responses only in the United States (d = 0.29). Mothers' success-oriented responses predicted more positive beliefs and affect in a cognitive task among children (ßs = .10-.18). Taken together, the findings support the importance of parents' goals in the socialization process.

Promoting physical activity in children through family-based intervention: protocol of the "Active 1 + FUN" randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial to people's physical and psychological health. Physically active children are likely to become active adults; thus, active lifestyles should be promoted from childhood. Parents are crucial for shaping their children's behaviors, but many lack the knowledge and skills to provide optimal support for PA. The "Active 1 + FUN" intervention was designed to enhance PA of the whole family, and improve parenting methods of both fathers and mothers. METHODS: "Active 1 + FUN" is a family-based intervention designed using the tenets of self-determination theory. The intervention was designed to help parents support their children's basic psychological needs for competence (by providing informational feedback and optimal challenges), autonomy (by exploring a variety of activities and reducing controlling behaviors), and relatedness (by increasing co-PA between parents and child). The intervention components include interactive workshops, activity sessions, physical activity homework, activity planning consultations, easy sports equipment, and online materials. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the intervention. A target sample of 204 Primary three to five students (8 to 11 years) and their parents will be randomly allocated to the experimental group or a wait-list control group. The experimental group will receive a ten-session intervention which spans approximately six months. The control group will receive intervention one year later. Children's accelerometer-based leisure-time physical activity (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, at end of intervention period (6 months after baseline), and at follow-up (12 months after baseline). Qualitative interviews will be conducted to determine effective intervention components from the perspective of children and parents. We hypothesize that the intervention will increase parents' and children's activity behaviors and that children will experience higher levels of needs satisfaction with regard to physical activity participation. DISCUSSION: Physical activity interventions often target children only, but ones that also involve parents may be more beneficial. The "Active 1 + FUN" intervention will be organized and delivered by trained trainers. Consequently, this intervention could be scaled to a larger number of Hong Kong schools in the future and could impact a wider population of schoolchildren. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR ACTRN12618001524280 . Registered 11 September 2018.