JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Social media may be a powerful platform to combat parents’ and children’s low physical activity levels.

Objective:

This study surveyed parent’s beliefs about physical activity to expand the extant literature concerning interest in and design of an effective, feasible, family-based social media physical activity (SMPA) program.

Methods:

Primary caregivers (N=250; 86% mothers; 65.6% White) of children aged 6-12 years old completed an online questionnaire. Interest was examined through responses on the questionnaire, beliefs (i.e., perceptions, knowledge, and support) about physical activity were examined using Spearman correlations, and to support family-based SMPA program design researchers examined a combination of multiple-choice and free-responses questions. For the free-response questions, the researchers performed open coding related to perceived benefits, barriers, and motivators.

Results:

86% of parent respondents were interested in a family-based SMPA program. Regarding beliefs, parents exhibited a monotonic relationship between two questions related to perceptions of physical activity levels in their children (rs (250) = .310, p < .001), knowledge about physical activity and motor skills (rs (250) = .328, p < .001), and support of physical activity and motor skills (rs (250) = .385, p < .001). Parents perceived benefits of a family-based SMPA program, highlighting family time and health. Barriers included time constraints and environmental factors.

Conclusions:

Parents are interested in supporting healthy family behaviors using a family-based SMPA program. An effective program should emphasize motor skill activities, be family-oriented, incorporate incentives, goal setting, and advice and tips. A family-based SMPA also needs to address identified barriers such as time and environment. Clinical Trial: N?A