Impact of the ‘Healthy Youngsters, Healthy Dads’ program on physical activity and other health behaviours: a randomised controlled trial involving fathers and their preschool-aged children

Morgan, Philip J.; Grounds, Jacqueline A.; Ashton, Lee M.; Collins, Clare E.; Barnes, Alyce T.; Pollock, Emma R.; Kennedy, Stevie-Lee; Rayward, Anna T.; Saunders, Kristen L.; Drew, Ryan J.; Young, Myles D.

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13424-1

Table 3 Changes in primary and secondary outcomes for study participants (intention-to-treat)

From: Impact of the ‘Healthy Youngsters, Healthy Dads’ program on physical activity and other health behaviours: a randomised controlled trial involving fathers and their preschool-aged children

Outcome	Group	Baseline	10 weeks change from baseline (Mean, 95% CI)			9 months change from baseline (Mean, 95% CI)
Outcome	Group	Mean (SE)	Within group^a	Mean difference between groups^b	p-value [Cohen’s d]	Within group^c	Mean difference between groups^b	p-value [Cohen’s d]
Primary Outcome
Steps/day
Children ^{e, h}	Intervention	8043 (342)	+ 1895 (1202, 2588)	+ 1417 (449, 2384)	.004 [0.53]	+ 1996 (1281, 2712)	+ 1480 (493, 2467)	.003 [0.55]
Children ^{e, h}	Control	9596 (339)	+ 478 (-197, 1154)	+ 1417 (449, 2384)	.004 [0.53]	+ 516 (-164, 1198)	+ 1480 (493, 2467)	.003 [0.55]
Secondary Outcomes
Steps/day
Father ^e	Intervention	8368 (379)	+ 850 (229, 1470)	+ 1027 (157, 1897)	.021 [0.43]	+ 737 (97, 1376)	+ 633 (-254, 1520)	.161 [0.26]
Father ^e	Control	8160 (377)	-177 (-788, 433)	+ 1027 (157, 1897)	.021 [0.43]	+ 104 (-511, 718)	+ 633 (-254, 1520)	.161 [0.26]
Adjusted steps/dayⁱ
Children ^e,h	Intervention	10,625 (498)	+ 406 (-571, 1385)	+ 1500 (135, 2865)	0.032 [0.40]	+ 1122 (-28, 2271)	+ 1904 (306, 3503)	0.020 [0.44]
Children ^e,h	Control	12,095 (492)	-1093 (-2045, -141)	+ 1500 (135, 2865)	0.032 [0.40]	-783 (-1894, 329)	+ 1904 (306, 3503)	0.020 [0.44]
Fathers ^e	Intervention	10,104 (479)	+ 217 (-676, 1109)	+ 1040 (-212, 2292)	0.103 [0.29]	+ 371 (-548, 1290)	+ 1046 (-230, 2322)	0.108 [0.30]
Fathers ^e	Control	9824 (477)	-823 (-1702, 56)	+ 1040 (-212, 2292)	0.103 [0.29]	-675 (-1560, 210)	+ 1046 (-230, 2322)	0.108 [0.30]
LPA (accelerometer sub-sample) (mins/d)
Children (n = 43)^j	Intervention	249 (7)	-4 (-20, 11)	-3 (-24, 19)	0.798 [-0.07]	+ 3 (-13, 20)	-6 (-28, 16)	0.602 [-0.16]
Children (n = 43)^j	Control	246 (7)	-2 (-17, 13)	-3 (-24, 19)	0.798 [-0.07]	+ 9 (-6, 24)	-6 (-28, 16)	0.602 [-0.16]
Fathers (n = 45)^k	Intervention	174 (10)	-54 (-78, -31)	-10 (-43, 22)	0.516 [-0.19]	-9 (-35, 16)	-4 (-38, 30)	0.823 [-0.07]
Fathers (n = 45)^k	Control	186 (10)	-44 (-66. -22)	-10 (-43, 22)	0.516 [-0.19]	-5 (-28, 17)	-4 (-38, 30)	0.823 [-0.07]
MVPA (accelerometer sub-sample) (mins/d)
Children (n = 43)^j	Intervention	104 (6)	+ 5 (-8, 18)	-4 (-22, 14)	0.636 [-0.15]	+ 22 (8, 36)	+ 2 (-17, 21)	0.823 [0.07]
Children (n = 43)^j	Control	108 (6)	+ 9 (-3, 22)	-4 (-22, 14)	0.636 [-0.15]	+ 20 (7, 32)	+ 2 (-17, 21)	0.823 [0.07]
Fathers (n = 45)^k	Intervention	70 (10)	+ 51 (14, 89)	+ 11 (-40, 62)	0.665 [0.13]	+ 1 (-19, 21)	+ 6 (-20, 33)	0.630 [0.14]
Fathers (n = 45)^k	Control	90 (11)	+ 40 (6, 75)	+ 11 (-40, 62)	0.665 [0.13]	-5 (-23, 12)	+ 6 (-20, 33)	0.630 [0.14]
Self-reported MVPA (mins/wk)
Fathers ^e	Intervention	140 (26)	+ 61 (17, 105)	+ 60 (-1, 122)	.055 [0.35]	+ 34 (-20, 85)	+ 57 (-17, 130)	.132 [0.27]
Fathers ^e	Control	174 (25)	+ 1.0 (-43, 44)	+ 60 (-1, 122)	.055 [0.35]	-24 (-76, 28)	+ 57 (-17, 130)	.132 [0.27]
Children’s FMS competence (TGMD)
Object control score ^{d, f, h}	Intervention	8.9 (0.6)	+ 4.7 (3.3, 6.2)	+ 4.5 (2.5, 6.5)	.000 [0.79]	+ 7.9 (6.4, 9.3)	+ 2.7 (0.6, 4.8)	.011 [0.46]
Object control score ^{d, f, h}	Control	10.6 (0.6)	+ 0.3 (-1.1, 1.7)	+ 4.5 (2.5, 6.5)	.000 [0.79]	+ 5.1 (3.7, 6.6)	+ 2.7 (0.6, 4.8)	.011 [0.46]
Co-physical activity (days/wk)
1-on-1	Intervention	1.6 (0.2)	+ 0.9 (0.4, 1.3)	+ 0.4 (-0.3, 1.1)	.252 [0.21]	+ 0.4 (-0.1, 0.9)	+ 0.2 (-0.5, 0.9)	.665 [0.08]
1-on-1	Control	1.3 (0.2)	+ 0.5 (-0.0, 1.0)	+ 0.4 (-0.3, 1.1)	.252 [0.21]	+ 0.2 (-0.3, 0.7)	+ 0.2 (-0.5, 0.9)	.665 [0.08]
Family (other children or family)	Intervention	2.5 (0.2)	+ 0.3 (-0.2, 0.8)	+ 0.2 (-0.4, 0.9)	.470 [0.13]	+ 0.03 (-0.4, 0.5)	+ 0.05 (-0.6, 0.7)	.879 [0.03]
Family (other children or family)	Control	2.3 (0.2)	+ 0.1 (-0.4, 0.5)	+ 0.2 (-0.4, 0.9)	.470 [0.13]	-0.02 (-0.5, 0.5)	+ 0.05 (-0.6, 0.7)	.879 [0.03]
Fathers’ role modelling
Physical Activity	Intervention	2.7 (0.1)	+ 0.4 (0.2, 0.5)	+ 0.3 (0.1, 0.5)	.001 [0.58]	+ 0.3 (0.2, 0.5)	+ 0.3 (0.1, 0.5)	.003 [0.54]
Physical Activity	Control	2.7 (0.1)	+ 0.1 (-0.0, 0.2)	+ 0.3 (0.1, 0.5)	.001 [0.58]	+ 0.0 (-0.1, 0.2)	+ 0.3 (0.1, 0.5)	.003 [0.54]
Screen time parenting practices
Fathers’ screen as reward ^{e, f}	Intervention	2.4 (0.1)	-0.6 (-0.7, -0.4)	-0.3 (-0.6, -0.1)	.007 [0.49]	-0.6 (-0.8, -0.4)	-0.3 (-0.6, -0.1)	.011 [0.46]
Fathers’ screen as reward ^{e, f}	Control	2.3 (0.1)	-0.3 (-0.4, -0.1)	-0.3 (-0.6, -0.1)	.007 [0.49]	-0.3 (-0.5, -0.1)	-0.3 (-0.6, -0.1)	.011 [0.46]
Fathers’ screens other than TV ^{f, g}	Intervention	1.6 (0.7)	-0.4 (-0.5, -0.2)	-0.2 (-0.4, -0.1)	.010 [0.47]	-0.2 (-0.4, -0.1)	-0.1 (-0.3, 0.1)	.208 [0.23]
Fathers’ screens other than TV ^{f, g}	Control	1.6 (0.1)	-0.1 (-0.2, 0.0)	-0.2 (-0.4, -0.1)	.010 [0.47]	-0.1 (-0.3, -0.0)	-0.1 (-0.3, 0.1)	.208 [0.23]
Screen time (average mins/day)
Children ^e (mother proxy)	Intervention	87.5 (6.5)	-15.9 (-26.8, -5.1)	-0.1 (-15.5, 15.3)	.989 [0.20]	-6.4 (-17.1, 4.4)	3.9 (-11.4, 19.3)	.614 [0.09]
Children ^e (mother proxy)	Control	100.6 (6.5)	-15.8 (-26.8, -4.9)	-0.1 (-15.5, 15.3)	.989 [0.20]	-10.3 (-21.3, 0.7)	3.9 (-11.4, 19.3)	.614 [0.09]
Fathers ^e	Intervention	124.1 (6.7)	-25.2 (-38.1, -12.4)	-16.6 (-34.8, 1.5)	.073 [0.32]	-12.9 (-25.9, 0.3)	-6.3 (-25.1, 12.5)	.509 [0.12]
Fathers ^e	Control	108.0 (6.6)	-8.6 (-21.5, 4.3)	-16.6 (-34.8, 1.5)	.073 [0.32]	-6.6 (-19.9, 6.9)	-6.3 (-25.1, 12.5)	.509 [0.12]
Weight status
Children (BMI-z)	Intervention	0.41 (0.11)	-0.01 (-0.09, 0.09)	-0.01 (-0.14, 0.12)	.892 [0.03]	+ 0.02 (-0.08, 0.11)	-0.11 (-0.24, 0.18)	.092 [0.30]
Children (BMI-z)	Control	0.24 (0.11)	+ 0.00 (-0.09, 0.09)	-0.01 (-0.14, 0.12)	.892 [0.03]	+ 0.13 (0.03, 0.22)	-0.11 (-0.24, 0.18)	.092 [0.30]
Fathers (BMI)	Intervention	28.0 (0.6)	-0.3 (-0.5, -0.2)	-0.2 (-0.4, 0.0)	.061 [0.35]	+ 0.0 (-0.2, 0.3)	-0.1 (-0.4, 0.2)	.548 [0.10]
Fathers (BMI)	Control	28.1 (0.6)	-0.1 (-0.3, 0.0)	-0.2 (-0.4, 0.0)	.061 [0.35]	+ 0.1 (-0.1, 0.4)	-0.1 (-0.4, 0.2)	.548 [0.10]
Fat mass %
Children ^d	Intervention	17.8 (0.9)	-0.3 (-2.0, 1.4)	+ 0.5 (-1.9, 2.8)	.695 [0.07]	-1.0 (-2.7, 0.6)	-1.4 (-3.7, 0.9)	.232 [0.22]
Children ^d	Control	17.5 (0.8)	-0.8 (-2.4, 0.9)	+ 0.5 (-1.9, 2.8)	.695 [0.07]	+ 0.4 (-1.3, 2.0)	-1.4 (-3.7, 0.9)	.232 [0.22]
Fathers	Intervention	22.3 (1.1)	-0.8 (-1.8, 0.2)	-1.0 (-2.4, 0.5)	.184 [0.24]	+ 0.8 (0.2, 1.4)	-0.2 (-1.0, 0.7)	.687 [0.07]
Fathers	Control	23.2 (1.06)	+ 0.2 (-0.8, 1.2)	-1.0 (-2.4, 0.5)	.184 [0.24]	+ 1.0 (0.4, 1.6)	-0.2 (-1.0, 0.7)	.687 [0.07]

Bold denotes a significant difference. BMI body mass index, MVPA moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, CPM counts per minute, TGMD Test of Gross Motor Development, FMS fundamental movement skills, Co-PA co-physical activity. ^a10 week value minus baseline; ^bWithin-group difference (intervention) minus within-group difference (control); ^c9 month value minus baseline; ^dAdjusted for child’s age; ^eTruncated to account for outliers [58] (> 3.29 SD truncated to next highest value plus 1) ^fAdjusted for fathers’ age; ^gAdjusted for SES; ^hAdjusted for child’s sex. ⁱAdjusted to include additional activity completed without wearing pedometer (e.g., swimming)
^jMinimum wear-time of 3 days, 7 h/day. ^kMinimum wear-time of 4 days, 10 h/day

Back to article page

ISSN: 1471-2458

Contact us

Submission enquiries: bmcpublichealth@biomedcentral.com
General enquiries: ORSupport@springernature.com

BMC Public Health

Contact us