An Empowering Parent Training Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Preschool Aged Children With Autism

NCT07421830 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: IRB#25-12-2226-C-01055
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 114
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if WE PLAY for Parents can improve caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and skills promoting physical activity with their young child with autism. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) Do participants who complete WE PLAY for Parents improve their knowledge, behavior intentions, perceived behavior control, self-efficacy, and parenting practices related to physical activity promotion with their child (Primary Hypotheses); and (2) Do participants view WE PLAY for Parents as acceptable, understandable, and feasible \[secondary hypothesis)? Researchers will compare the WE PLAY for Parents group \[experimental arm\] to a Waitlist Control group to see if there are differences in the variables listed in the primary hypothesis. Participants will: (1) Complete a set of questionnaires at three timepoints: pre-training, post-training, and 3-month follow-up that each take between 10-15 minutes; (2) be randomly assigned to take the training over the next two weeks or be offered the training after 3 months. The online training takes about 90 minutes. It includes watching informational videos, viewing video clips of adults helping children be active, reading handouts on behavior management tips and social stories, participating in an anonymous discussion board with other parents, and completing a self-assessment.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Keywords

parents; autism; physical activity; preschoolers; health promotion; active play; caregivers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Change from Pre-Training in Parental Confidence in Promoting Physical Activity for their Children on the Preschool Parent Confidence Questionnaire (PPCQ) at Week 2

  The PPCQ is a 17-item, self-report instrument measuring parental confidence in promoting physical activity for their children (Coleman, 2010). The 17 items are rated 0 (not confident)-10 (totally confident), yielding a total score (0-170) with higher scores indicating higher parental self-efficacy. The PPCQ demonstrates strong reliability (α = 0.92-0.94).

  Pre-training (Week 0), Post-training (Week 2)

• Change from Pre-Training in Parental Physical Activity Knowledge at Week 2

  The physical activity knowledge test measures parental knowledge of physical activity promotion among young children with autism. The measure contains 10 multiple-choice items that were developed based on content from the WE PLAY for Parents online intervention. Scores range from 0-10 with higher scores indicating stronger knowledge.

  Pre-training (Week 0), Post-training (Week 2)

• Change from Pre-Training in Parental Behavioral Intention and Perceived Behavioral Control on the Adapted Early Childhood Educator Movement Behavioral Intention and Perceived Control Questionnaire (ECE-MBIPC) at Week 2

  An adapted version of the validated ECE-MBIPC assesses behavior intentions and perceived behavior control over five physical activity-related behaviors. The 10 items are rated using a 7-point, Likert-type scale, and generate composite scores for behavioral intention (5 items) and perceived control (5 items), with higher scores indicating greater likelihood of engagement. Composite scores range from 0-35 for behavioral intention and perceived control. The ECE-MBIPC questionnaire shows high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha \> 0.85 across subscales) (Bruijns et al., 2023).

  Pre-training (Week 0), Post-training (Week 2)

• Change from Pre-Training in Parental Physical Activity Promotion Practices on the Preschooler Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PPAPP) at Week 14

  The Engagement subscale of the PPAPP measures parental encouragement of physical activity. This subscale includes 15 items that are rated using a 5-point scale. Scores range from 0-75 and higher scores indicate more frequent PA-promoting practices. Cronbach's α values= 0.87-0.92 (O'Connor et al., 2014).

  Pre-training (week 0), 3-month Follow-Up (week 14).

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Describe Acceptability, Understanding, and Feasibility of the WE PLAY for Parents Intervention with the Usage Rating Profile-Intervention Revised (URP-IR) at Post-Training

  Post-training (Week 2)

Study Arms (2)

WE PLAY for Parents Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the WE PLAY for Parents Group will be asked to complete the intervention in the first two weeks of the study period.

Behavioral: Wellness Enhancing Physical Activity for Young Children: Parent Version (WE PLAY for Parents)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the Waitlist Control group will be given access to the WE PLAY for Parents training after their study data collection is complete. This group will not receive any intervention during the data collection period.

Interventions

Wellness Enhancing Physical Activity for Young Children: Parent Version (WE PLAY for Parents) BEHAVIORAL

WE PLAY for Parents is an online intervention that includes an asynchronous online training with written material about physical activity promotion. Users view video clips of adults promoting active play with young children, review handouts with behavior management tips and social stories, participate in an anonymized discussion board with other parent participants, and complete a self-assessment. Intervention completion is takes between 1.5 to 2 hours.

WE PLAY for Parents Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Parents or caregivers (who are at least 18 years of age) of children with a diagnosis of autism.
• The autism diagnosis for the child can be from a school or medical setting.
• The parent or caregiver's child with autism must be between 2 years 11 months and 5 years, 11 months of age.
• Parent or caregivers must be able to read and write in English.

You may not qualify if:

• Parents or caregivers who do not have a child with autism.
• Adults who do not have children.
• Parents or caregivers who cannot read and write in English.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northeastern University: lead
• Society for Pediatric Psychology: collaborator
• APA: American Psychological Association: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (21)

• Enders, C. K. (2010). Applied missing data analysis. Guilford Press.

  BACKGROUND

• Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

  RESULT

• Agard B, Zeng N, McCloskey ML, Johnson SL, Bellows LL. Moving Together: Understanding Parent Perceptions Related to Physical Activity and Motor Skill Development in Preschool Children. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 31;18(17):9196. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179196.

  PMID: 34501785 RESULT

• Barry A, Ku B, Swarup G, Christensen LA, Columna L. Psychological factors of parental physical activity support among parents of children with disabilities: a meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2025 May;47(10):2503-2511. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2399222. Epub 2024 Sep 11.

  PMID: 39259233 RESULT

• Briesch AM, Chafouleas SM, Neugebauer SR, Riley-Tillman TC. Assessing influences on intervention implementation: revision of the usage rating profile-intervention. J Sch Psychol. 2013 Feb;51(1):81-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jsp.2012.08.006. Epub 2012 Sep 20.

  PMID: 23375174 RESULT

• Bruijns, B. A., Johnson, A. M., Burke, S. M., & Tucker, P. (2023). Validation of a physical activity, sedentary behavior, and outdoor play behavioral intention and perceived behavioral control tool for early childhood educators. Early Childhood Education Journal, 51(3), 559-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-022-01314-5

  RESULT

• Carson V, Lee EY, Hewitt L, Jennings C, Hunter S, Kuzik N, Stearns JA, Unrau SP, Poitras VJ, Gray C, Adamo KB, Janssen I, Okely AD, Spence JC, Timmons BW, Sampson M, Tremblay MS. Systematic review of the relationships between physical activity and health indicators in the early years (0-4 years). BMC Public Health. 2017 Nov 20;17(Suppl 5):854. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4860-0.

  PMID: 29219090 RESULT

• Coleman, M. B. (2010). Development and validation of the Preschool Parent Confidence Questionnaire (PPCQ): A parental self-efficacy instrument (Unpublished master's thesis). Northern Illinois University, IL.

  RESULT

• Columna L, Meera B, Prieto LA, Haegele JA. The perceived influence of a physical activity intervention on the intentions of parents of autistic children towards physical activities. Disabil Health J. 2024 Oct;17(4):101637. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101637. Epub 2024 Apr 30.

  PMID: 38724331 RESULT

• Finch M, Jones J, Yoong S, Wiggers J, Wolfenden L. Effectiveness of centre-based childcare interventions in increasing child physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis for policymakers and practitioners. Obes Rev. 2016 May;17(5):412-28. doi: 10.1111/obr.12392. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

  PMID: 27005942 RESULT

• Goldstein NE, Kemp KA, Leff SS, Lochman JE. Guidelines for Adapting Manualized Interventions for New Target Populations: A Step-Wise Approach Using Anger Management as a Model. Clin Psychol (New York). 2012 Dec 1;19(4):385-401. doi: 10.1111/cpsp.12011.

  PMID: 25110403 RESULT

• Ha AS, He Q, Lubans DR, Chan CH, Ng JYY. Parent-focused online intervention to promote parents' physical literacy and support children's physical activity: results from a quasi-experimental trial. BMC Public Health. 2022 Jul 12;22(1):1330. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13739-z.

  PMID: 35820873 RESULT

• He, Q., Ha, A. S. C., Ng, J. Y. Y., Cairney, J., & Bedard, C. (2022). Associations between parent perceived social cognitive factors and child objectively measured physical activity behaviors among preschool-aged children. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 61, 102200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102200

  RESULT

• Hnatiuk JA, Brown HE, Downing KL, Hinkley T, Salmon J, Hesketh KD. Interventions to increase physical activity in children 0-5 years old: a systematic review, meta-analysis and realist synthesis. Obes Rev. 2019 Jan;20(1):75-87. doi: 10.1111/obr.12763. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

  PMID: 30257277 RESULT

• Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; COUNCIL ON CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, SECTION ON DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020 Jan;145(1):e20193447. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3447. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

  PMID: 31843864 RESULT

• Ku B, MacDonald M, Hatfield B, Gunter K. Parental Influence on the Physical Activity Behaviors of Young Children With Developmental Disabilities. Adapt Phys Activ Q. 2020 Sep 24;37(4):441-460. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2019-0120. Print 2020 Oct 1.

  PMID: 32971518 RESULT

• O'Connor TM, Cerin E, Hughes SO, Robles J, Thompson DI, Mendoza JA, Baranowski T, Lee RE. Psychometrics of the preschooler physical activity parenting practices instrument among a Latino sample. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014 Jan 15;11:3. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-11-3.

  PMID: 24428935 RESULT

• Schmidt, E., Hoffman, J., Mulé, C., & Briesch, A. (2023). Adapting a preschool physical activity intervention to be inclusive of children on the autism spectrum. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2023.2291575

  RESULT

• Schmidt EM, Hoffman JA, Mule C, Briesch A. Effects of a teacher training program to promote physically active play among preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. J Sch Psychol. 2021 Apr;85:57-79. doi: 10.1016/j.jsp.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

  PMID: 33715781 RESULT

• Hoffman JA, Schmidt EM, Castaneda-Sceppa C, Hillman CH. The theoretical foundation, fidelity, feasibility, and acceptability of a teacher training to promote physical activity among preschoolers in child care: A pilot study. Prev Med Rep. 2019 Jan 9;13:214-217. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.01.003. eCollection 2019 Mar.

  PMID: 30705808 RESULT

• Hoffman JA, Schmidt EM, Arguello DJ, Eyllon MN, Castaneda-Sceppa C, Cloutier G, Hillman CH. Online preschool teacher training to promote physical activity in young children: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial. Sch Psychol. 2020 Mar;35(2):118-127. doi: 10.1037/spq0000349. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

  PMID: 31916788 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavior

Study Officials

• Jessica Hoffman, PhD, NCSP

  Northeastern University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Haley V Medeiros, M.S./CAGs

CONTACT

5086540724; medeiros.ha@northeastern.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a waitlist control RCT design. The waitlist group will receive access to the intervention (WE PLAY for Parents) at the end of their study participation (after the final data point is collected at the 3-month follow-up survey).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 5, 2026
• First Posted: February 19, 2026
• Study Start: February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)