Comparing a Workplace Resilience and a Physical Activity Intervention on Early Childhood Educators Well-being

NCT06919952 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 25-0016R01AT012620
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 640
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this 15-month cluster clinical trial is to compare a resilience and stress management program to a physical activity program for early childhood education (ECE) staff on change in well-being. It will also look to see if changes in well-being continue over time. The study sample will include 80 child care centers. Including 80 ECE center directors and approximately 560 ECE center staff. Some ECE centers will receive only the remotely delivered Resilience program. This program works with ECE staff and helps them recognize and strengthen their resilience assets and resources. Other ECE centers will receive only the remotely delivered Physical Activity program that will focus on staff physical activity habits and strength training. There will be 3 months of active program participation and 12 months of a maintenance period where participants will only have access to program materials.

Conditions

Resilience

Keywords

child care provider well-being; child care centers; early childhood education; physical activity; resilience; behavior change

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Resilience from Baseline to 3 months

  Resilience of ECE staff will be assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). ECE staff will fill out through an online survey. The CD-RISC is a 25-item scale. Scores range from 0-100 with higher scores reflecting greater resilience.

  Baseline and 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in Resilience from 3 months to 9 months

  3 months and 9 months

• Change in Resilience from 9 to 15 months

  9 months and 15 months

• Change in Well-Being from Baseline to 3 months

  Baseline and 3 months

• Change in Organizational Support and Resources from Baseline to 3 months

  Baseline and 3 months

• Absenteeism from Baseline to 3 months

  Baseline to 3 months

Study Arms (2)

Resilience

EXPERIMENTAL

Centers randomized to Resilience will receive the Stress Management And Resilience Training program. Participating staff will be led through the program by a behavioral health counselor for 3 months. This counselor will orient participants to the Resilience program and the 4 modules. The counselor will also provide 4 coaching calls with directors (at the start of each module). Additionally, the counselor will provide a webinar every 3 weeks (at the end of each module) to all participants. Participants will have access to video lessons and resources. They will receive weekly reminders and encouragement through text messages.

Behavioral: Resilience

Physical Activity

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Centers randomized to the control arm will receive a physical activity program. Participating staff will be led through the program by a behavioral health counselor for 3 months. This counselor will orient participants to the physical activity program and the 4 modules. The counselor will also provide 4 coaching calls with directors (at the start of each module). Additionally, the counselor will provide a webinar every 3 weeks (at the end of each module) to all participants. Participants will have access to video lessons and resources. They will receive weekly reminders and encouragement through text messages.

Behavioral: Physical Activity

Interventions

Resilience BEHAVIORAL

The Resilience program focuses on drawing on resilience assets and resources, both internal and external. Participants will have access to materials (e.g., lessons, videos, webinars, coaching calls) supporting the adoption of strategies for improving well-being. Behavior change strategies used are meant to increase intervention adherence and improve well-being and resilience.

Resilience

Physical Activity BEHAVIORAL

The Physical Activity program focuses on supporting physical activity health habits. Participants will have access to materials (e.g., lessons, videos, webinars, coaching calls) supporting the adoption of strategies of evidence-based strategies for physical activity goals. Behavior change strategies used are meant to help establish, improve or maintain healthy physical activity habits.

Physical Activity

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Child Care Centers
• Licensed with no plans to close in the next 2 years
• Been in operation for at least 1 year
• Has at least 4 employees
• ECE Staff
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Be able to read and speak English
• Must have access to an online resource (e.g., smartphone, tablet, computer)
• Must be willing to receive text messages

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): collaborator
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: lead

Study Sites (1)

UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7426, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Hales D, Burney R, Willis E, Clarke E, Peterson S, Branch S, Fowlin B, Chesak S, Linnan LA, Sood A, Suazo NC, Jones DJ. Protocol for a cluster-randomized control trial of a remote workplace resilience intervention for early care and education providers: The OnWARD trial. PLoS One. 2026 Mar 13;21(3):e0340915. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340915. eCollection 2026.

  PMID: 41824507 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Derek Hales, PhD

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Deborah Jones, PhD

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Regan V Burney, PhD

CONTACT

336-71-7459; reganb@email.unc.edu

Deborah J Jones, PhD

CONTACT

919-724-2157; djjones@email.unc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2025
• First Posted: April 9, 2025
• Study Start: August 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2029
• Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Beginning at 9 months and continuing for 36 months following publication.
• Access Criteria: Investigator has approved IRB, IEC, or REB and an executed data use/sharing agreement with UNC-CH.

Locations

US (1)