Promoting sport participation during early parenthood: a randomized controlled trial protocol

Area of Science:

• Psychosocial health
• Adult physical activity
• Family wellness

Background:

• Adult sport participation offers psychosocial benefits but remains low in Canada.
• Parents with young children are a key demographic for increasing sport engagement.
• This group experiences inactivity and elevated psychosocial distress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of team and individual sports on psychosocial outcomes in parents with young children.
• To compare these outcomes against a personal time control group.
• To inform public health initiatives for families.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month, single-blind, randomized controlled trial with three arms: team sport, individual sport, and personal time control.
• Participants: Parents with children under 13, inactive, and not meeting physical activity guidelines.
• Assessments: Psychosocial variables measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months.

Main Results:

• Ongoing study with 161 parents recruited from Greater Victoria, BC, Canada.
• Targeting 240 participants with completion anticipated by December 2021.
• Data collection for quality of life, relationship satisfaction, social functioning, parental stress, and enjoyment is in progress.

Conclusions:

• The randomized controlled trial protocol is established to assess sport participation's effectiveness.
• Findings could guide future adult sport programs and public health strategies for parents and families.
• This research addresses the need for evidence-based interventions to improve psychosocial well-being.