The Impact of Grandchild Care on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in People Aged 50 Years and Over

NCT04307589 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2020-067
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 255
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Given the widespread provision of grandparental child care, examining its impact on grandparents' energy-expenditure related behaviors in the broader context of health is imperative. The maintenance of functional independence and good quality of life is critical at a more advanced age. It has been put forward that an increased duration, frequency and intensity of physical activity (PA) combined with a restriction of sedentary behavior (SB) is the most important strategy to reduce morbidity risk and to foster health in an aging population. The present study aims to fill a gap in current knowledge on (changes in) caregiving grandparents' PA levels and SB patterns. An observational follow-up study will be conducted to examine and compare both energy-expenditure related behaviors linked to body composition and health-related quality of life among caregiving grandparents, non-caregiving grandparents and non-grandparent peers, both momentarily and over time. This fundamental research aims to provide scientific evidence contributing to the promotion of healthy grandparenting in people on the threshold of old age in modern society.

Conditions

Adults Aged 50 Years and Older

Keywords

grandparents; grandchildren; caregiving; physical activity; sedentary behavior; body composition; quality of life; prospective cohort study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in physical activity

  Physical activity will be assessed subjectively by using a self-reported questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ - Dutch version)) and objectively by using a tri-axial accelerometers (Actigraph, wGT3X-BT) over a one-week period.

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 24 months (T2)

• Change in sedentary behavior

  Sedentary behavior will be assessed subjectively by using a self-reported questionnaire (Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire for (older) adults in Dutch) and objectively by using a tri-axial accelerometers (Actigraph, wGT3X-BT) over a one-week period.

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 24 months (T2)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in body dimensions

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 2 year months (T2)

• Change in body composition

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 2 year months (T2)

• Change in quality of life: self-reported questionnaire

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 24 months (T2)

Other Outcomes (2)

• Intensity of non-residential grandchild care

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 24 months (T2)

• Socio-demographic characteristics

  At baseline (T0), at 12 months (T1), at 24 months (T2)

Study Arms (3)

Caregiving grandparents

Other: Observation

Non-caregiving grandparents

Other: Observation

Middle-aged and older adults not being a grandparent

Other: Observation

Interventions

Observation OTHER

An observational follow-up study will be implemented over a period of 2 years, consisting of 3 test occasions with a fixed time interval of 1 year in between (T0 = baseline, T1 = 12 months, T2 = 24 months). Data will be collected in participants who provide grandchild care in a non-residential grandparent context as well as in a sample of non-caregiving grandparents and a sample of middle-aged and older adults not being a grandparent. All three samples will thus be prospectively monitored over a period of 2 years.

Caregiving grandparents; Middle-aged and older adults not being a grandparent; Non-caregiving grandparents

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

People aged 50 years and over with and without grandchildren.

You may qualify if:

• Being ≥50 years of age
• Speaking the Dutch language
• Being able to perform independent locomotion (e.g. not relying on a walking aid or wheelchair, etc.)
• Not suffering from a known cognitive impairment affecting one's memory, attention or understanding (e.g. dementia, brain injury, etc.)
• Not living in a residential care center for elderly people

You may not qualify if:

• Being \<50 years of age
• Not speaking the Dutch language
• Not being able to perform independent locomotion (e.g. relying on a walking aid or wheelchair, etc.)
• Suffering from a known cognitive impairment affecting one's memory, attention or understanding (e.g. dementia, brain injury, etc.)
• Living in a residential care center for elderly people

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vrije Universiteit Brussel: lead
• Research Foundation Flanders: collaborator
• University Ghent: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Brussels, Belgium

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Sedentary Behavior

Interventions

Observation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methods; Investigative Techniques

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 10, 2020
• First Posted: March 13, 2020
• Study Start: September 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2022
• Study Completion: December 31, 2022
• Last Updated: May 1, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-04

Locations

BE (1)