Maternal influences on adolescent daughters to increase physical activity (Supporting Our Lifelong Engagement: Mothers and Teens Exercising [SOLE MATES]): a feasibility study

Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that mothers can positively impact physical activity levels of their adolescent daughters. No research in Ireland has investigated the potential benefit of an intergenerational approach to increase physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a 6 week mother–daughter walking programme. Methods Supporting Our Lifelong Engagement: Mothers and Teens Exercising (SOLE MATES) was a single-group feasibility study conducted in Ireland between Jan 23, 2018 and March 6 2018, comprising six weekly education and face-to-face group sessions. Participants received individualised and progressive weekly step goals. They were recruited via social media and through post-primary schools. Physical activity levels were measured with pedometers, and parent–child communication and parenting practices were assessed with questionnaires. Feasibility was examined through predetermined benchmarks, and assessed recruitment, data collection, and acceptability. The primary outcome was daily step counts. A paired t test was used to compare average daily steps before and after intervention. Ethics approval was granted by institutional review board. Written parental and participant informed consent was obtained. Findings 27 mothers and 31 daughters completed baseline measures. 21 mothers (mean age 44·9 years [SD 6·1], body-mass index 27·3 kg/m 2 [5·3]) and 23 daughters (14 [1·2], 21·9 [4·6]) started the programme. Mean baseline daily step counts for mothers (6791, SD 2705) and daughters (5788, 1595) were low, indicating the intervention relevance to the population. Mean daily steps increased after the intervention for mothers (2875 step increase, p=0·009) and daughters (1393, p=0·007). The study had an 80% retention rate (17 mothers, 18 daughters). Baseline and post measures were completed by 33 participants (16 mothers, 17 daughters; 75%), and 34 (17, 17; 80%) attended 4–6 sessions. Post-measures took place 1 week after programme completion. Data collection procedures and programme content were acceptable, receiving a mean score of 4·14 (SD 0·3) on a 5-point Likert Scale (benchmark u003e3·5). Interpretation An increase in daily steps from before to after intervention combined with high acceptability of programme content and data collection procedures demonstrate the preliminary feasibility of the SOLE MATES programme. The efficacy of the programme should now be tested in a powered randomised controlled trial. Funding Mary Immaculate College Research Directorate Seed funding scheme. Get Ireland Walking provided funding for participants merchandise. The funders had no role in the study.