Active Moms Project: Physical Activity Intervention for Low-Income Mothers

NCT ID: NCT05540509

Last Updated: 2022-09-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2012-05-23
• Study Completion Date: 2013-05-01

Brief Summary

Despite the health benefits of physical activity, increasing regular physical activity levels among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers has remained a significant challenge. The current mixed-methods feasibility study explored the impact that a three-month community-based (CBI) and a home-based intervention (HBI) had on improving physical activity and fitness levels, as well as psychosocial outcomes (self-efficacy and social support) among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers. These results support the efficacy of CBIs and HBIs in improving PA and fitness levels and have important implications for improving health outcomes among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers.

Detailed Description

Despite the health benefits of physical activity, increasing regular physical activity levels among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers has remained a significant challenge. Yet, few studies have examined the feasibility of implementing interventions to address physical activity barriers often experienced by this population. The current mixed-methods feasibility study explored the impact that a three-month community-based (CBI) and a home-based intervention (HBI) had on improving physical activity and fitness levels, as well as psychosocial outcomes (self-efficacy and social support) among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers. Thirty mothers were randomized to either a three-month community-based intervention (CBI) or a home-based intervention (HBI) and completed pre- and post-intervention assessments of physical activity (self-report, accelerometer), fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscle endurance and strength, flexibility), self-efficacy, and social support. Post-intervention focus groups were also conducted. Through formative research, this pilot work will develop and empirically test a CBI and HBI among low-income mothers for use in local community centers. The results of the proposed work have substantial public health implications and are expected to advance the investigator's understanding of how low-income mothers effectively use these intervention modalities to adopt healthy behaviors and produce change that can positively impact their health, as well as that of their children. Further, the proposed research will yield two physical activity interventions that can be readily delivered in community settings, are scalable, and are relatively low cost. Finally, these results will help identify those subgroups of mothers that may do particularly well (or poorly) with these innovative approaches to physical activity adoption and maintenance. This has important implications for the tailoring of physical activity programs to individual needs and preferences.

Conditions

Physical Inactivity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Community-based intervention

This program consisted of 12 group exercise sessions over a three-month period that were offered in Spanish and English. Each two-hour session consisted of 90 minutes of flexibility, cardiovascular, and strength exercises to meet physical activity recommendations and 30 minutes of group discussions that focused on topics related to the adoption and maintenance of physical activity.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Community-based intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Mothers were given physical activity goals and coping resources to practice at home and were asked to record their experiences on an activity log. Course content was taught from a detailed training manual and was based on concepts and strategies from social cognitive theory that have been effective in increasing physical activity and fitness levels among mothers. In the first month, mothers attended group exercise sessions twice per week (total of eight group sessions) and exercised on their own once per week. In the second month, mothers attended group exercise sessions once per week (total of four group sessions) and exercised on their own twice per week. In the third month, mothers exercised on their own three times per week.

Home-based intervention

Mothers randomized to the HBI group participated in a three-month program where they were given print-based materials (offered in Spanish or English) at each monthly assessment time point. The print-based materials provided information on multiple cardiovascular, strength training, and flexibility exercises that they could do at home.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Home-based intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The HBI group received information on building social support and reducing physical activity barriers based on materials from the Diabetes Prevention Program. Participants were also given activity logs to record their physical activity each week, which was collected by research staff at each monthly assessment time point to assess how participants were progressing with their physical activity goals. Mothers exercised on their own for three months with the goal of meeting national physical activity guidelines

Interventions

Community-based intervention

Mothers were given physical activity goals and coping resources to practice at home and were asked to record their experiences on an activity log. Course content was taught from a detailed training manual and was based on concepts and strategies from social cognitive theory that have been effective in increasing physical activity and fitness levels among mothers. In the first month, mothers attended group exercise sessions twice per week (total of eight group sessions) and exercised on their own once per week. In the second month, mothers attended group exercise sessions once per week (total of four group sessions) and exercised on their own twice per week. In the third month, mothers exercised on their own three times per week.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Home-based intervention

The HBI group received information on building social support and reducing physical activity barriers based on materials from the Diabetes Prevention Program. Participants were also given activity logs to record their physical activity each week, which was collected by research staff at each monthly assessment time point to assess how participants were progressing with their physical activity goals. Mothers exercised on their own for three months with the goal of meeting national physical activity guidelines

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

CBI; HBI

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• a mother of a young child (<10 years of age)
• fluent in either Spanish or English
• Sedentary (i.e., not engaging in 90 minutes or more of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week)

Exclusion Criteria

• Not medically cleared by a doctor or by a medical history screener to engage in moderate-intensity physical activity
• Currently pregnant

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

California State University, Long Beach

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Guido Urizar

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Guido Urizar, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

California State University, Long Beach

Other Identifiers

PHS 11-252

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id