Effect of a Parental Modeling Intervention on Parent and 1- to 5-Year-Old Children’s Physical Activity

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect an 8-wk parental modeling physical activity (PA) intervention had on parent and child PA. Twenty-six parent and young child dyads (1–5 yr) were randomized into either a PA intervention (n = 19) or a waitlist control group (n = 7) for 8 wk. The intervention group received weekly phone calls with a coach to discuss strategies to increase parent and child PA. PA was assessed by an accelerometer before and after the intervention. Time spent in sedentary behavior, light, moderate, and vigorous PA was determined using age appropriate cut points. A series of 2 (group: control–intervention) × 2 (time: pre–post) ANCOVA was run to examine the effect of the intervention on PA levels in the parents and children adjusting for wear time. Among the parents, main and interaction effects were not significant for PA levels, regardless of intensity (P > 0.05). Effect size analysis indicated the intervention group had medium reductions in sedentary behavior (d = −0.57) and increases in vigorous PA (d = 0.65), whereas parents in the control group had a small increase in sedentary behavior (d = 0.14) and medium reductions in vigorous PA (d = −0.75). Regarding the children’s data, the PA levels were similar by group and time (P > 0.05), and interaction effects were not present. Small decreases in sedentary behavior (d = −0.24), light (d = −0.23), moderate (d = −0.13), and total (d = −0.21) PA were observed in the intervention children, whereas control children had small increases in sedentary behavior (d = 0.24) and large decreases in light (d = −0.92) and moderate (d = −0.90), and total (d = −1.02) PA. Although a parental modeling PA intervention may have positive effects on parent’s and children’s PA levels, additional research is needed using a larger sample to better understand the effect this type of intervention may have on improving PA levels.