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

Amy S Ha; Chris Lonsdale; David R Lubans; Florrie F Ng; Johan Y Y Ng

doi:10.1186/s12966-021-01160-5

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

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Jul 17;18(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01160-5.

Authors

Amy S Ha¹, Chris Lonsdale², David R Lubans³, Florrie F Ng⁴, Johan Y Y Ng⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Kwok Sports Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. sauchingha@cuhk.edu.hk.
² Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, 33 Berry Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060, Australia.
³ Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁴ Department of Educational Psychology, Ho Tim Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
⁵ Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Abstract

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 .

Keywords: Accelerometry; Co-physical activity; Health-related quality of life; Hierarchical linear models; Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; Self-determination theory.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Child
Exercise / physiology
Exercise / psychology*
Family Health*
Female
Health Promotion / organization & administration*
Humans
Male
Motor Activity
Parent-Child Relations*
Parents / education*
Parents / psychology
Personal Autonomy
Program Evaluation / methods*

Associated data

ANZCTR/ACTRN12618001524280