Behavioral and Social Approaches to Increase Physical Activity: Family-Based Social Support

Family-based interventions attempt to change health behavior through the use of techniques that increase the support of family members for behavior change. Programs typically include joint or separate educational sessions on health, goal-setting, problem-solving, or family behavioral management and often incorporate some physical activities.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force finds insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of family-based social support interventions in increasing levels of physical activity or improving fitness because of inconsistent results.

Task Force Finding

About the Interventions

These interventions target factors in the social environment and interpersonal and behavioral patterns that are likely to influence physical activity behaviors.

Interventions in this category targeted to children and their families are often implemented as part of a larger strategy that includes other school-based interventions, such as school-based physical education or classroom-based health education.

Results from the Systematic Reviews

Eleven studies qualified for the review.

• As a group, these studies found inconsistent results, with some studies showing increases in activity and others showing decreases.
• This inconsistency of results across the body of evidence evidence also was seen in the physiologic measures assessed.

Find a Research-tested Intervention Program (RTIP) about the use of family-based social support interventions to increase physical activity (What is an RTIP?).

These results were based on a systematic review of all available studies, conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice, and policy related to physical activity.

Economic Review

An economic review of this intervention was not conducted because the Task Force found insufficient evidence to determine its effectiveness.

Supporting Materials

• Research gaps
• Included studies

Publications

Kahn EB, Ramsey LT, Brownson R, et al. The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity: a systematic review. [PDF - 3.14MB] Am J Prev Med 2002;22(4S):73-107.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to increase physical activity in communities. [PDF - 70KB] Am J Prev Med 2002;22 (4S):67-72.

CDC. Increasing physical activity. A report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services. MMWR 2001;50 (RR-18):1-16.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Physical activity. [PDF - 302KB] In : Zaza S, Briss PA, Harris KW, eds. The Guide to Community Preventive Services: What Works to Promote Health? Atlanta (GA): Oxford University Press;2005:80-113.

More Community Guide publications about Promoting Physical Activity

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Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Behavioral and social approaches to increase physical activity: family-based social support. www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/behavioral-social/familysupport.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: February 2001