Establishing Effectiveness of a Community-based, Physical Activity Program for Fathers and Daughters: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background The ‘Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered’ (DADEE) program significantly improved physical activity levels of fathers and their daughters in an efficacy trial. However, the effectiveness of interventions when delivered in real-world settings needs to be established. Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of the DADEE intervention when delivered in community settings by trained facilitators. Methods We conducted a two-arm RCT, (baseline and 3-months post-intervention assessments), in Newcastle, Australia. In 2016, 155 fathers (27–60 years) and 189 primary-school-aged daughters (4–12 years) (n = 344) were randomly allocated to the intervention (78 fathers, 95 daughters) or waitlist-control (77 fathers, 94 daughters) groups. Trained facilitators delivered the 9-week DADEE program (weekly sessions plus home-based tasks). Primary outcomes were fathers’ and daughters’ physical activity (steps/day). Secondary outcomes included screen-time, weight status, daughters’ fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency, perceived sports competence, and fathers’ parenting practices. Effects were assessed using linear mixed models. Results Primary outcome follow-up data were collected from 88% of fathers and 89% of daughters. Significant group-by-time differences in mean daily steps were found for fathers’ (adjusted difference = +1,638; 95% CI: 833, 2,443, d = 0.7) and daughters’ (adjusted difference = +1,023 steps/day; 95% CI: 259, 1,787; d = 0.4) physical activity. Significant effects were observed for daughters’ screen-time, FMS, and some parenting practices. No significant effects were identified for weight status, or fathers’screen-time or self-reported MVPA. Program attendance, satisfaction and fidelity were very high. Conclusion This study established the effectiveness of the DADEE intervention when delivered in community settings by trained facilitators. Importantly, the findings were comparable to those of the efficacy RCT delivered by the research team. To maximize public health benefits, a larger-scale dissemination of the program appears warranted. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12616001270404 Human Research Ethics Committee: H-2014-0330

Effects of a father–daughter physical activity intervention delivered by trained facilitators in the community setting on girls’ social-emotional well-being: A randomized controlled trial.

“…Third, fathers and daughters participated in a 45-min practical session together. Although the program had a major focus on increasing fathers’ and daughters’ physical activity levels (Morgan et al, 2021), the DADEE program also targeted daughters’ social-emotional well-being. For example, during the combined education session for fathers and daughters, and the education session for daughters-only, facilitators introduced “Word(s) of the Week” (e.g., self-control, resilience) and provided practical strategies on how to apply this new construct.…”

“…A comprehensive description of intervention components and their alignment with the behavior change techniques has been published elsewhere (Morgan et al, 2021). To summarize, the nine 90-min weekly group education and practical sessions were designed to satisfy constructs such as social support and relatedness (e.g., fathers and daughters spending quality time together); autonomy (e.g., choice over graded practical tasks/activities); self-efficacy and perceived competence (e.g., credible facilitators providing instructions and demonstrations on how to develop skills); outcome expectations (e.g., information on health, emotional, social, and environmental consequences of physical activity behaviors); and goals (e.g., fathers participating in barriers and solutions activities).…”

“…The current study formed part of a larger project. The primary outcomes of the larger project were fathers’ and daughters’ physical activity levels and have been previously published (Morgan et al, 2021). Secondary outcomes included daughters’ sport skill proficiency, fathers’ and daughters’ screen time, and fathers’ parenting and role modelling for physical activity.…”

“…Secondary outcomes included daughters’ sport skill proficiency, fathers’ and daughters’ screen time, and fathers’ parenting and role modelling for physical activity. Significant intervention effects were observed for fathers’ and daughters’ physical activity levels (fathers, d = 0.7; daughters, d = 0.4), and medium-to-large intervention effects were observed for daughters’ screen-time ( d = 0.5), fundamental movement skills ( d = 1.3), and some physical activity parenting practices (e.g., monitoring, d = 0.9; Morgan et al, 2021). Also, program adherence and program satisfaction were high with 84% of fathers and 82% of daughters attending at least seven of nine program sessions, and on a scale of 1 ( poor ) to 5 ( excellent ), program facilitators received a mean satisfaction score of 4.8 ( SD = 0.4; Morgan et al, 2021).…”

Association of 7-Day Profiles of Motor Activity in Marital Dyads with One Component Affected by Parkinson’s Disease

“…Interestingly, it has been shown experimentally that concurrent upper limb movements performed by two subjects face to face show a coupling effect [ 39 ], and some authors have proposed that humans tend to adopt similar behaviours in everyday life [ 40 ]. This association has been observed in parent–son dyads [ 41 ], and has been considered able to facilitate physical activity [ 42 ]. Questionnaire approaches have been used to detect such association in everyday motor activities [ 43 ].…”