A pilot effectiveness study of a just-in-time micro-randomized controlled trial on the physical activity and sedentary time of young children and their parents: The active family m-health intervention.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Parents play a critical role in influencing their young children's physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST). Despite this, many young children (aged 3-4y) and their parents are insufficiently active and engage in high amounts of ST. M-health interventions targeting PA and ST have seldom been tested in this population. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of the Active Family m-health intervention on the PA and ST of young children and their parents.

Methods

Twenty-five stay-at-home parent-child dyads from Canada took part in the 2-week just-in-time micro-randomized controlled trial. Parents received seven text message prompts per day, where they were randomized to receive either a micro-intervention (activity suggest

SUBMITTER: Phillips SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12810825 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature