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Effectiveness of a Parent-Focused Intervention Targeting 24-H Movement Behaviors in Preschool-Aged Children: Study
Jie Feng1, Wendy Yajun Huang2, Cindy Hui-Ping Sit3
1Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Insights
This study tests a parent-focused intervention to improve preschool physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Findings will guide best practices for children's movement behavior change.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Integrated interventions for preschool 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) are understudied.
- Existing interventions often focus on single behaviors, limiting a holistic approach to child health.
- Parent-focused strategies are crucial for implementing behavior change in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a parent-focused intervention for preschoolers.
- To target multiple 24-hour movement behaviors, including physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep hygiene.
- To compare an integrated approach (PA+SB+Sleep) with a dyadic approach (PA+SB) and a control group.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week, three-arm randomized controlled trial involving 150 parent-child dyads.
- Intervention guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and behavior change techniques.
- Outcomes include preschoolers' 24-hour movement behaviors, sleep quality, weight status, cognitive function, and parental movement behaviors.
Main Results:
- The study is designed to evaluate the impact of the intervention on preschoolers' movement behaviors and health outcomes.
- It will provide data on the feasibility and acceptability of the integrated approach.
- Expected improvements in children's and parents' movement behaviors.
Conclusions:
- This theory-based, parent-focused intervention aims to enhance preschoolers' overall movement behaviors.
- Findings will inform optimal strategies for promoting active lifestyles and healthy habits in early childhood.
- The study addresses the need for comprehensive approaches to childhood health and well-being.
Background:
Interventions targeting single behaviors of preschool-aged children have been mainstream for some time, but integrated interventions targeting all three 24-h movement behaviors (physical activity [PA], sedentary behavior [SB], and sleep hygiene) are less studied. The aims of this study will be to test the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a parent-focused intervention for preschool-aged children targeting multiple 24-h movement behaviors.
Methods:
This three-arm randomized controlled trial will comprise a 12-week intervention and a 12-week follow-up. A total of 150 parent-child dyads will be recruited and randomly allocated to one of three arms: (1) a PA + SB group (dyadic approach), (2) a PA + SB + sleep group (integrated approach), and (3) a wait-list control group. The theory of planned behavior and behavioral change techniques will guide the development of the intervention via workshops, education materials, interactive questionnaires, and reminders. The intervention strategies for the integrated group will be the same as for the dyadic approach except that the intervention will also target sleep hygiene in addition to PA and SB. The primary outcomes will be preschoolers' 24-h movement behaviors (e.g., activity sleep index, compositional data of PA, SB, screen time, and sleep duration). The secondary outcomes will be preschoolers' sleep quality, weight status, cognitive function, and parents' movement behaviors. The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will also be evaluated.
Discussion:
The proposed study will be a theory-based, parent-focused intervention designed to improve all three 24-h movement behaviors among preschoolers. The trial is expected to improve preschoolers' movement behaviors and health outcomes, as well as their parents' movement behaviors. Given the urgent need to promote active lifestyles, our findings will help to determine best practices for movement behavior change among young children.
Trial Registration:
The study is prospectively registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200055958).
