The Development and Evaluation of an Intergenerational Program for GRANDchildren and Their GRANDparents to Stimulate Physical Activity and Cognitive Function Using Co-creaTion
The Development and Evaluation of an Intergenerational Program for GRANDchildren and Their GRANDparents to Stimulate Physical Activity and Cognitive Function Using Co-creaTion
The aim of this study is to develop, evaluate and implement an intergenerational physical activity program for grandchildren and their grandparents using co-creation focusing on the promotion of (co-)physical activity as a primary outcome and cognitive functioning, psychosocial well-being, the family relationship, expectations regarding aging and motor competence in grandparents and grandchildren as secondary outcomes.
In recent years, increased attention has been devoted to intergenerational physical activity (PA) programs because they may have several benefits for children and older adults (e.g., learning skills from each other, reduction of ageism). An intergenerational PA program focusing on grandchildren and -parents in a 'standard' family setting and the combination of PA and cognitive functions is innovative and may hold potential to promote PA and improve cognitive functions in both grandchildren and their grandparents. The aim of this study is to describe the protocol of the GRANDPACT (GRANDparents and GRANDchildren improve their Physical Activity and Cognitive functions using co-creaTion) project, focusing on the development of an intergenerational PA program for grandchildren and -parents using the theoretical framework "Behaviour Change Wheel" in combination with a co-creation approach. One co-creation trajectory will be organized to develop the program, followed by an efficacy trial to refine and evaluate the program with measurements pre (at baseline), post (after 24 weeks) and follow-up (after 36 weeks) to measure the outcomes of (co-)PA, cognitive functions, psychosocial well-being, the quality of the family relationship, expectations regarding aging and motor competence in grandchildren and -parents. The outcomes will be measured using accelerometery for PA, Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) testing for cognitive functions and questionnaires for psychosocial well-being, quality of the family relationship and expectations regarding aging. Motor competence will be tested with different field tests in grandparents and grandchildren. Co-development with end-users and stakeholders during the co-creation trajectory is expected to result in an effective, attractive and feasible program. Co-PA is expected to improve PA, cognitive functions, psychosocial well-being, quality of the family relationship, motor competence and motivation to be physically active in grandchildren and -parents. Both will also have better expectations regarding aging.
Inclusion Criteria for children:
Inclusion Criteria for grandparents:
Exclusion Criteria grandparents:
- Having medical health problems (epilepsy) that can cause a risk when participating in the intervention