Evidence mapPaperPMID 40598290Full record

SynthesisThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2025

Parents' experiences of family-based physical activity interventions: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis.

Carol Brennan, Evangeline Streight, Shishi Cheng, Ryan E Rhodes

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Carol BrennanBehavioural Medicine Laboratory, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada. carolbrennan@uvic.ca.
Evangeline StreightBehavioural Medicine Laboratory, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
Shishi ChengDepartment of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Ryan E RhodesBehavioural Medicine Laboratory, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildren and adolescents are at increased risk of adverse health consequences linked to physical inactivity. Parental support is positively correlated with children and adolescents' physical activity (PA) levels. As a result, family-based interventions are acknowledged as an effective strategy for enhancing PA among this cohort. However, the effects of these interventions on child and adolescent PA are often inconsistent, with calls for more in-depth understanding of the contextual issues related to intervention implementation and parents' experiences of interventions. The purpose of this review was to appraise and synthesize qualitative research regarding parents' experiences of family-based PA interventions.

methodsSeven databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SportDiscus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest) were searched for studies published from inception to January 2024 that included qualitative evaluative data of parents' experiences of family-based PA interventions. The research quality of included studies was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Qualitative data were extracted and thematically synthesized.

resultsA total of 7,770 articles were screened, of which 82 independent studies were included in the final synthesis. Three analytic themes were generated. (1) The reasons why parents enrolled in family-based interventions and the perceived benefits for parents, children, and families; (2) Parents' perspectives on intervention components, including their satisfaction, coherence, and suggestions for improvement; (3) The social and environmental factors shaping parents' intervention experiences and parental PA support. Findings show the benefits of PA, being a good role model and spending time together as motives for enrollment. Parents perceived child or adolescent's PA confidence and overall well-being and family functioning improved. Parents presented mixed views about planning, goal setting, self-monitoring, intervention materials and resources, and delivery. Child or adolescents' interest, social connections, financial constraints and availability of resources impacted parental engagement.

conclusionsThis novel and comprehensive review offers practical recommendations to guide intervention development and inform future policy and practice such as: consider using co-design methods and social network analysis; promoting the benefits of PA on family functioning during recruitment; strengthening parents PA support identities; provide opportunities for social support for families post-intervention and educate coaches to create an environment of inclusivity and enjoyment.

trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42023421539.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth PromotionParentsAdolescentChildFamilyHumansQualitative ResearchSocial SupportFamilyParentsPhysical activityQualitative synthesisThematic synthesis

Identifiers

PMID40598290
PMCPMC12220237

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.