Parents' role constructions for facilitating physical activity‐related behaviours in their young children

The effect of experiential learning interventions on physical activity outcomes in children: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review examined the effectiveness of experiential learning interventions for improving children's physical activity knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. It also aimed to identify intervention characteristics that resulted in the greatest impact.

METHODS

Four databases: Education Research Complete, Scopus, Web of Science and PsychINFO were searched from database inception to January 2023. Eligible studies: (1) included children 0-12 years; (2) assessed the effect of physical activity outcomes on children's physical activity knowledge, attitudes or behaviour and (3) were randomised controlled trials conducted in any setting. Study risk of bias was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Intervention approaches were categorised, and effect sizes were compared across studies for each outcome.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in the review: ten in school age and two in below five years. For behavioural outcomes, six of eight studies showed medium to large effects (effects size (ES) range: 0.3-0.9), two of the three studies that assessed attitudinal outcomes displayed medium effects (ES range: 0.4-0.5) and both studies that assessed knowledge outcomes displayed medium to large effects (ES range: 0.4-1.3). The two experiential learning interventions among children < 5 years demonstrated small to medium effects on behaviour change (ES range: 0.2-0.5). Effective interventions combined enjoyable practical activities (fitness activities, games and challenges), with behaviour change techniques (goal setting, and self-monitoring), were underpinned by a behaviour change theory, and were often of short duration (< 4 months) but intense (several sessions/week). Moderate to high statistical heterogeneity was observed for behaviour outcomes and risk of bias across studies was generally high.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides some evidence supporting the effectiveness of experiential learning interventions in improving physical activity outcomes in school-aged children. Additional evidence is needed in children <5 years old. Future experiential learning interventions need to strengthen the evidence with rigorous methodological quality and clear reporting of the experiential learning components.

Factors That Influence Maternal Feeding Decisions for Toddlers: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior

OBJECTIVE

To use the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to assess mothers' behavioral intentions to provide toddlers with a healthy diet and see if the addition of the parental role construction (PRC) variable strengthened the TPB.

DESIGN

An online survey using data gathered from preliminary research and a previously validated survey.

PARTICIPANTS

The final sample consisted of 148 mothers. The mean age was 32.8 (SD = 6.16) years. Most participants were married (87.2%), had earned a college degree or higher (79.7%), held part-time or full-time employment (60.8%), and were White (90.3%).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The TPB constructs, PRC, and the mothers' behavioral intentions surrounding toddler feeding.

ANALYSIS

The determinants of intention per the TPB were explored using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

The TPB model predicted 53% of the variance in mother's behavioral intention to provide their toddler with a healthy diet. The addition of the PRC variable added 6% more predictive power to the model.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Mothers' behavioral intentions surrounding feeding their toddlers were strongly influenced by the TPB constructs and their perceptions of the maternal role. Health promotion efforts should aim to increase the mother's sense of behavioral control and parental responsibility rather than focusing on the benefits of healthy eating.

Gender Influences on Physical Activity Awareness of Adolescents and Their Parents

The imbalances between the actual physical activity (PA) of adolescents and the subjective perception both they and their parents have in this regard can play an important role in perpetuating inactive lifestyles. The aim of this study is to analyse these discrepancies by considering gender as a conditioning factor. The participants in the study were 1697 adolescents, 1244 mothers and 1052 fathers in the educational communities of 26 secondary schools located in urban environments of the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain). With regard to actual physical activity, a high prevalence of sedentarism (82.1%) was revealed, this being even more acute in girls (87.8%). However, the perceived levels of activity differed significantly from the actual ones with a clear general overestimation both by the adolescents and their parents. When further exploring the data, gender influences were also detected both in adolescent and parental perceptions, since the high rates of overestimation in sedentary individuals were lower in girls and, on the contrary, the low rates of underestimation in active individuals were higher in girls. Moreover, although the level of agreement between actual and perceived physical activity was low overall, with Cohen's kappa values ranging from 0.006 to 0.047, the lowest values were observed in the case of girls. In conclusion, both the adolescents and their parents were incapable of correctly assessing the actual physical activity of the former, so it seems that the general population lacks knowledge about the amount of physical activity that adolescents need to do to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Consequently, it would be advisable to implement health education campaigns and awareness-raising interventions directed to young people as well as to their parents and, in doing so, gender must be considered by establishing distinct program designs in terms of this variable.

Social-cognitive predictors of parental supervised toothbrushing: An application of the health action process approach

BACKGROUND

We examined the social cognition determinants of parental supervised toothbrushing guided by the health action process approach (HAPA).

METHODS

In a prospective correlational survey study, participants (N = 185, 84.3% women) completed HAPA social cognition constructs at an initial time point (T1), and 12 weeks later (T2) self-reported on their parental supervised toothbrushing behaviour, toothbrushing habit, and action control.

RESULTS

Structural equation models exhibited adequate fit with the data when past behaviour and habit were either excluded or included. Intention, self-efficacy, planning, and action control were predictors of parental supervised toothbrushing; intention predicted action planning and coping planning; and self-efficacy and attitude were predictors of intention. Indirect effects of social cognition constructs through intentions, and intentions through planning constructs were also observed. Inclusion of past behaviour and habit attenuated model effects.

CONCLUSION

Results indicate that parental supervised toothbrushing is a function of motivational and volitional processes. This knowledge can be used to inform behaviour change interventions targeting parental supervised toothbrushing.

Predicting pool safety habits and intentions of Australian parents and carers for their young children

INTRODUCTION

Children under five years are most at risk of experiencing fatal and nonfatal drowning. The highest proportion of drowning incidents occur in private swimming pools. Lapses in adult supervision and failures in pool barriers are leading contributory factors for pool drowning in this age group.

METHODS

We investigated the role of the theory of planned behavior social cognitions (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) as well as perceived barriers, planning, role construction, and anticipated regret on parents' and carers' intentions and habits toward two pool safety behaviors: restricting access and supervising children around private swimming pools. The study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design. Participants (N = 509) comprised Australian parents or caregivers with children aged under five years and access to a swimming pool at their residence. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures of social cognitive variables with respect to the swimming pool safety behaviors for their children.

RESULTS

Path analytic models controlling for past behavior indicated that subjective norm, planning, anticipated regret, and role construction were important predictors of habit, and subjective norm was a consistent predictor of intentions, for both behaviors. Planning predicted intentions in the restricting access sample, while attitudes, barriers, and role construction also predicted intentions in the supervising sample. Both models controlled for past behavior.

CONCLUSION

Current findings indicate the importance of psychological factors for restricting access and supervising behaviors, with normative factors prominent for both reasoned (intentions) and non-conscious (habits) behavioral antecedents. It seems factors guiding restricting access, which likely require regular enactment of routine behaviors (e.g., ensuring gate is not propped open, pool fence meets standards), may be governed by more habitual than intentional processes.