Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Sep;45(11):914-22.
doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090187.

The effect of community and family interventions on young people's physical activity levels: a review of reviews and updated systematic review

Esther M F van Sluijs  1 , Susi Kriemler, Alison M McMinn
Affiliations

The effect of community and family interventions on young people's physical activity levels: a review of reviews and updated systematic review

Esther M F van Sluijs et al. Br J Sports Med. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Next to the school environment, the family and community environment are key for young people's behaviour and for promoting physical activity (PA).

Methods: A review of reviews was conducted, after which a literature search was conducted (in PubMed, Scopus and PsychInfo) from August 2007 (search date of the most recent review) to October 2010. Inclusion criteria were study population aged 18 years or younger, controlled trial, no PA control condition, PA promotion intervention and reported analyses of a PA-related outcome. Methodological quality was assessed, and data on intervention details, methods and effects on primary and secondary outcomes (PA, body composition and fitness) were extracted.

Results: Three previous reviews were reviewed, including 13 family-based and three community-based interventions. Study inclusion differed for each review, but all concluded that the evidence was limited, although the potential of family-based interventions delivered in the home and including self-monitoring was highlighted. A further six family-based and four community-based interventions were included in the updated review, with a methodological quality score ranging from 2 to 10 and five studies scoring 6 or higher. Significant positive effects on PA were observed for one community-based and three family-based studies. No distinctive characteristics of the effective interventions compared with those that were ineffective were identified.

Conclusions: The effect of family- and community-based interventions remains uncertain despite improvements in study quality. Of the little evidence of effectiveness, most comes from those targeted at families and set in the home. Further detailed research is needed to identify key approaches for increasing young people's PA levels in family and community settings.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Identification of included studies in updated review (August 2007 to October 2010).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Janssen I, LeBlanc AG. Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010;7:40. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Andersen LB, Harro M, Sardinha LB, et al. Physical activity and clustered cardiovascular risk in children: a cross-sectional study (The European Youth Heart Study) Lancet. 2006;368:299–304. - PubMed
    1. Nader PR, Bradley RH, Houts RM, et al. Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity From Ages 9 to 15 Years. JAMA. 2008;300:295–305. - PubMed
    1. Almond L, Harris J. Interventions to promote health-related physical education. In: Biddle S, Sallis J, Cavill N, editors. Young and Active? Young people and health-enhancing physical activity - evidence and implications. Health Education Authority; London: 1998. pp. 133–149.
    1. Ward DS, Saunders RP, Pate RR. The role of theory in understanding physical activity behavior. In: Ward DS, Saunders RP, Pate RR, editors. Physical Activity Interventions in Children and Adolescents. Human Kinetics; Champaign: 2007. pp. 21–41.

Publication types