Fostering Collaborative Parent-Child Physical Activity through a Novel AI-Powered App: A Feasibility Pilot

/ABSTRACT Despite recognition of the pressing issues of high rates of childhood obesity and insufficient moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) across the lifespan, few effective programs exist to support family-based behavior change for physical activity (PA) promotion and weight gain prevention. Family-based PA promotion interventions may be well-suited to support PA improvements in parents and children in the pre- adolescent period (i.e., 9-12 years old), as parents are still seen as an important role model to children during this developmental stage, and intervention at this time could help prevent further declines in child PA seen during adolescence. Novel methods to facilitate family engagement are needed to optimize MVPA outcomes. One highly promising yet underexplored approach to facilitating family engagement in MVPA is to leverage mobile technology in concert with collaboration for support and motivation. Thus, this proposal addresses a novel goal: providing comprehensive support for collaborative MVPA—before, during, and after PA. Literature suggests that collaboration can lead to improved PA outcomes by enhancing motivation and accountability, though most studies to date have been conducted with adults, and none with families or children. Our team recently built a prototype app that was piloted in two small studies demonstrating its early usability; the app displays key data including HR zones for facilitating MVPA collaboration between parents and children. The present application proposes to refine and investigate the benefits of the FamilyCollab system, to demonstrate the ways in which it supports parent-child dyads in pre-MVPA goal setting, collaborative real-time MVPA, and post-MVPA reflection. Using smartwatch data, personalized family goal setting, and interactive AI chat, the FamilyCollab system will support collaborative MVPA and achievement of the MVPA recommendations for parents and children. Then, the FamilyCollab app will be tested in a randomized feasibility pilot, compared to the same smartwatch with its standard commercial app. The objective is to refine the FamilyCollab app and gather data on the feasibility and acceptability of this approach in preparation for a larger efficacy trial. SPECIFIC AIMS: Aim 1: Refine the FamilyCollab App. The team will refine the FamilyCollab app through two rounds of usability studies with (n=12 dyads; parents with children 9-12 years old). These studies will finalize layout and features, along with ensuring usability and acceptability, ahead of Aim 2. Aim 2: Feasibility Pilot. A total of 60 parent-child dyads will be randomly assigned to the FamilyCollab Condition (intervention) or the Comparison Condition (control), where dyads will use the same smartwatch and its standard commercial app. The primary outcomes of the FamilyCollab intervention will be feasibility, measured as rates of dyad recruitment and retention; acceptability of the approach; and engagement with the FamilyCollab system after 12 weeks. Exploratory outcomes will include changes in MVPA, BMI, and family functioning (i.e., communication, support, cohesion) at 12 weeks. Project Number: 1R21HD117302-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) | Principal Investigator: Danielle Jake-Schoffman (+1 co-PI) | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE, FL | Award Amount: $422,125 | Activity Code: R21 | Study Section: Lifestyle Change and Behavioral Health Study Section[LCBH] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/1R21HD11730201A1