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

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

The purpose of our study is to explore the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) identity formation in the family system as a promotor of long-term PA. The primary research question is:

Does a family identity formation condition (with education+planning) result in increased child moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) compared to a standard comparison education and planning condition at six months? Hypothesis: Child MVPA will be higher for the identity formation condition in comparison to the more standard PA education+planning condition at six months.

The secondary research questions will include:

1. Does the identity formation condition improve child health-related fitness outcomes compared to the education and planning condition at six months? Hypothesis: Child health-related fitness will be higher for the identity formation condition in comparison to the education and planning condition.
2. Can group differences among behavioural, and health-related fitness outcomes be explained through a mediation model? Hypothesis: The covariance of the assigned conditions (identity formation, planning + education) on child MVPA will be explained by parental support, and through parental support identity (i.e., manipulation check). In turn, the covariance between support and health-related outcomes will be explained by MVPA among conditions. In the case of null outcomes for research question #1, the investigators will instead explore a prediction model of these variables rather than a mediation model.
3. Is there an intergenerational, seasonal, or sex difference across primary outcomes by assigned condition? Hypothesis: Parents in the identity formation condition will show higher physical activity via some activities being performed with their children (as part of social identity) in comparison to the other condition. No differences in child sex or season are hypothesized based on past research.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants will be at least one parent with at least one child between the ages of 6 and 12 years.
• Families (parents and/or guardians and children) residing in Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan, Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, British Columbia.
• Children that participate in <60 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA)

Exclusion Criteria:

• If child is meeting the current physical activity guidelines >=60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.
• If participant does not pass Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ)