More Evidence Needed to Determine
Effectiveness of Family-Based Social
Support in Increasing Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is associated with a healthier, longer life. Physically active people have a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. Despite all the benefits of physical activity, most people in this country are sedentary. Given that regular physical activity helps people enjoy better health, an important question is: what strategies work best in helping people become more physically active?

According to the Community Guide rules of evidence, available studies provide insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of family-based social support interventions in increasing levels of physical activity or improving fitness, because of inconsistent results among the studies. This does not mean that these interventions are ineffective, but that additional research is needed to determine their effects.

• Family-based interventions attempt to change health behavior through the use of techniques that increase the support of family members for behavior change. The family is a major source of influence for children in the modeling of health behaviors and is, therefore, an appropriate target for intervention. Many disease risk factors, both behavioral and physiologic, aggregate within families. Moreover, a supportive social environment has been shown to increase maintenance of behavior change.



• These interventions target factors in the social environment and interpersonal and behavioral patterns that are likely to influence physical activity behaviors. Interventions may be targeted to families with children or to spouses or partners without children. Programs typically include joint or separate educational sessions on health, goal-setting, problem-solving, or family behavioral management and will often incorporate some physical activities.



• Interventions in this category targeted to children and their families are often implemented as part of a larger strategy that includes other school-based interventions, such as school-based PE or classroom-based health education. In this setting, the family component is often conceptualized as an adjunct home curriculum to the school activities, involving take-home packets, reward systems, and family record keeping. They may also include family-oriented special events (e.g., the CATCH [Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health] program has Family Fun Nights, which are “mini-health fairs” for family and peers that offer games, prizes, food, and beverages).

• Eight arms from six studies showed increases in knowledge about disease risk factors, fitness, exercise, and health among both children and adults. One study showed evidence of an increase in self-efficacy for physical activity. One study showed an increase in satisfaction with the amount of family activity.

Publications:

• American Journal of Preventive Medicine – Am J Prev Med 2002: 22 (4S); 73-107 . A report on e vidence and findings.
• MMWR/Recommendations and Reports – October 26, 2001/Vol. 50/ No. RR-18. A report on findings.

The findings and conclusions in this report have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

The Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide) provides recommendations on population-based interventions to promote health and to prevent disease, injury, disability, and premature death, appropriate for use by communities and healthcare systems. For more information about the Community Guide (including links to publications and a variety of resources) see www.thecommunityguide.org and for more information about the physical activity review see www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/.

This information is in the public domain. Copying and disseminating freely is encouraged. However, citation to source is appreciated.

Updated – January 23, 2008