Rationale and design of a pilot randomized controlled trial to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in preadolescent Latina girls and their mothers

Authors: ARREDONDO, ELVA - San Diego State University; SCHNEIDER, JENNIFER - San Diego State University; TORRES-RUIZ, MARISA - San Diego State University; TELLES, VICTORIA - San Diego State University; THRALLS-BUTTE, KATIE - Seattle Pacific University; WEST, MICHELLE - San Diego State University; MALDONADO, MIRIAM - San Diego State University; GALLAGHER, KATHLEEN - Non ARS Employee; ROESCH, SCOTT - San Diego State University; AYALA, GUADALUPE - San Diego State University; BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/2023
Publication Date: 4/20/2023
Citation: Arredondo, E.M., Schneider, J., Torres-Ruiz, M., Telles, V., Thralls-Butte, K., West, M., Maldonado, M., Gallagher, K., Roesch, S., Ayala, G.X., Baranowski, T. 2023. Rationale and design of a pilot randomized controlled trial to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in preadolescent Latina girls and their mothers. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 33. Article 101137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101137.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101137

Interpretive Summary: Hispanic/Latina girls have a low prevalence of moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) compared to their male counterparts and non-Hispanic White girls. Mothers influence their children's activity levels by creating and supporting PA opportunities, modeling PA, and reinforcing children's efforts to be physically active. Thus, the Conmigo trial will evaluate a mother-daughter intervention to promote PA and examine potential mechanisms of change including mothers' PA, parenting regarding PA, and mother-daughter communication. This trial will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a 12-week intervention promoting PA in preadolescent Latina girls in San Diego County, CA. We will examine the impact of the intervention on the influence of mother-daughter PA. The findings from the Conmigo trial will form the basis of a randomized controlled community trial and will move the field forward in identifying targets for change in preventing chronic disease risk in Hispanic/Latino communities.

Technical Abstract: Hispanic/Latina girls have a low prevalence of moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) compared to their male counterparts and non-Hispanic White girls. Mothers influence their children's activity levels by creating and supporting PA opportunities, modeling PA, and reinforcing children's efforts to be physically active. The Conmigo trial will evaluate a mother-daughter intervention to promote PA and examine potential mechanisms of change including mothers' PA, parenting regarding PA, and mother-daughter communication. This randomized controlled trial examines the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a 12-week intervention promoting PA in preadolescent Latina girls in San Diego County, CA. Participants (n=90 dyads) are randomized to the Conmigo PA intervention or to a control group that receive an abbreviated version of the intervention. The intervention was informed by Social Cognitive Theory and Family Systems Theory and emphasize family-level factors to promote PA using an actor-partner model. Mothers and daughters attend weekly 90-min sessions in English or in Spanish via Zoom video conferencing, supported by facilitator follow-ups and WhatsApp supportive chat group for mothers. Objective (accelerometer) and self-report measures at base-line, 3 months, and 6 months capture the frequency and intensity of PA and correlates and predictors of PA. We also examine the impact of the intervention on the bidirectional infkluence of mother-daughter PA. The findings from the Conmigo trial will form the basis of a randomized controlled community trial and will move the field forward in identifying targets of change in preventing chronic disease risk in Hispanic/ Latino communities.