The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of AVG intervention on the parent-child relationships of overweight and obese male adolescents under a family-based parental involvement model. A cluster randomised controlled trial (C-RCT) was conducted with 12- to 14-year-old participants, divided into three groups: (1) Parental Involvement in Active Video Games (PIAVG), (2) Single Player Active Video Games (SPAVG), and (3) Control (watching TV-WTV). The intervention lasted for two weeks, during which changes in parent-child relationship levels were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Although no significant changes were observed within the three groups, the trend analysis indicated an upward trajectory in both experimental groups. Notably, the PIAVG group demonstrated significantly more improvement in the measured outcomes than the WTV group in the inter-group comparison. The findings suggest that parental involvement in active video games enhances the effectiveness of such interventions, leading to better parent-child relationships among overweight and obese adolescents. This underscores the potential for family-based interventions to combat adolescent obesity in this population.
Baylor College of Medicine. (2020). https://www.bcm.edu/bodycomplab/BMIapp/BMI-calculator-kids.html
Cai, Y., Zhu, X., & Wu, X. (2017). Overweight, obesity, and screen-time viewing among Chinese school-aged children: National prevalence estimates from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China-The Youth Study. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 6(4), 404–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2017.09.002
Chen, F., Zheng, D., Liu, J., Gong, Y., Guan, Z., & Lou, D. (2020). Depression and anxiety among adolescents during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 88, 36–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.061
Ding, X., Zhang, W., Ooi, L. L., Coplan, R. J., Zhang, S., & Dong, Q. (2022). Longitudinal relations between social avoidance, academic achievement, and adjustment in Chinese children. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 79, 101385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101385
Dou, K., Feng, X.-K., Wang, L.-X., & Li, J.-B. (2022). Longitudinal association between parental involvement and internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: Consideration of future consequences as a mediator and peer victimization as a moderator. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 11(3), 820–830. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2022.00056
Fan, X., & Cao, Z.-B. (2017). Physical activity among Chinese school-aged children: National prevalence estimates from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China-The Youth Study. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 6(4), 388–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2017.09.006
Gioftsidou, A., Vernadakis, N., Malliou, P., Batzios, S., Sofokleous, P., Antoniou, P., Kouli, O., Tsapralis, K., & Godolias, G. (2013). Typical balance exercises or exergames for balance improvement? Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 26(3), 299–305. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-130384
Hazel, N. A., Oppenheimer, C. W., Technow, J. R., Young, J. F., & Hankin, B. L. (2014). Parent relationship quality buffers against the effect of peer stressors on depressive symptoms from middle childhood to adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 50(8), 2115–2123. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037192
Helen. (2016, April 6). Games to play for a perfect parent child relationship. KiddyCharts. https://www.kiddycharts.com/activities/perfect-games-to-build-parent-child-relationships/
Hwang, J., Lee, I.-M., Fernandez, A. M., Hillman, C. H., & Lu, A. S. (2019). Exploring Energy Expenditure and Body Movement of Exergaming in Children of Different Weight Status. Pediatric Exercise Science, 31(4), 438–447. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2019-0006
Jure?ková, J., & Picek, J. (2007). Shapiro–Wilk-type test of normality under nuisance regression and scale. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 51(10), 5184–5191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csda.2006.08.026
Li, F. (2016). Physical activity and health in the presence of China’s economic growth: Meeting the public health challenges of the aging population. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 5(3), 258–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2016.06.004
Li, J., Li, Y., & Zou, H. (2008). The Structure and Measurement of Parent-child Trust among Junior High School Students. Psychological Development and Education, 4, 80–87.
Liu, Y., Ke, Y., Liang, Y., Zhu, Z., Cao, Z., Zhuang, J., Cai, Y., Wang, L., Chen, P., & Tang, Y. (2023). Results from the China 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 21(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2022.10.004
Liu, Z., Gao, P., Gao, A.-Y., Lin, Y., Feng, X.-X., Zhang, F., Xu, L.-Q., Niu, W.-Y., Fang, H., Zhou, S., Li, W.-H., Yuan, J.-H., Xu, C.-X., Wu, N., Li, H.-J., Wen, L.-M., Patton, G. C., Wang, H.-J., & Wu, Y.-F. (2022). Effectiveness of a Multifaceted Intervention for Prevention of Obesity in Primary School Children in China: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 176(1), e214375. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.4375
Lobo, A. (2018, November 12). Parent Child Relationship Building Activities, Parent-Child Bonding Activities to Strengthen Relationships with Preschoolers, Primary Schoolers and Teenagers | ParentCircle. https://www.parentcircle.com/activities-to-strengthen-the-parent-child-bond/article
Marsh, S., Foley, L. S., Wilks, D. C., & Maddison, R. (2014). Family-based interventions for reducing sedentary time in youth: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews, 15(2), 117–133. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12105
Moholdt, T., Weie, S., Chorianopoulos, K., Wang, A. I., & Hagen, K. (2017). Exergaming can be an innovative way of enjoyable high-intensity interval training. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 3(1), e000258. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000258
Moore, C. G., Carter, R. E., Nietert, P. J., & Stewart, P. W. (2011). Recommendations for planning pilot studies in clinical and translational research. Clinical and Translational Science, 4(5), 332–337. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-8062.2011.00347.x
Musick, G., Freeman, G., & McNeese, N. J. (2021). Gaming as Family Time: Digital Game Co-play in Modern Parent-Child Relationships. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CHI PLAY), 251:1-251:25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3474678
Nawaz, A., Skjæret, N., Helbostad, J. L., Vereijken, B., Boulton, E., & Svanaes, D. (2016). Usability and acceptability of balance exergames in older adults: A scoping review. Health Informatics Journal, 22(4), 911–931. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458215598638
Pedrosa, A. L., Bitencourt, L., Fróes, A. C. F., Cazumbá, M. L. B., Campos, R. G. B., de Brito, S. B. C. S., & Simões e Silva, A. C. (2020). Emotional, Behavioral, and Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566212
Peters, T., Richards, S., Bankhead, C., Ades, A., & Sterne, J. (2003). Comparison of methods for analysing cluster randomized trials: An example involving a factorial design. International Journal of Epidemiology, 32(5), 840–846. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyg228
Song, Y., Ye, C., & Wang, L. (2022). Parent child relationship and suicidal ideation of junior high school students during the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic: Mediating effect of growth thinking and moderating effect of sedentary time. Chinese Journal of Health Psychology, 30(6), 801–807.
Staiano, A. E., Abraham, A. A., & Calvert, S. L. (2013). Adolescent Exergame Play for Weight Loss and Psychosocial Improvement: A Controlled Physical Activity Intervention. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 21(3), 598–601. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2012.143
Stefansen, K., Smette, I., & Strandbu, Å. (2018). Understanding the increase in parents’ involvement in organized youth sports. Sport, Education and Society, 23(2), 162–172. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2016.1150834
Su, F., Song N., Xue B., Li J., Wang Y., Fang L., & Cheng Y. (2020). Temporal and spatial characteristics of people’s psychological state during the COVID-19—Based on the analysis of 24188 samples nationwide. Chinese Soft Science, 11, 52–60.
Teufl, L., & Ahnert, L. (2022). Parent–child play and parent–child relationship: Are fathers special? Journal of Family Psychology, 36(3), 416–426. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000933
Wüest, S., Borghese, N. A., Pirovano, M., Mainetti, R., van de Langenberg, R., & de Bruin, E. D. (2014). Usability and Effects of an Exergame-Based Balance Training Program. Games For Health Journal, 3(2), 106–114. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2013.0093
Zeng, N., & Gao, Z. (2016). Exergaming and obesity in youth: Current perspectives. International Journal of General Medicine, 9, 275–284. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S99025
Zheng, C., Wu S., Wang C., Han X., He Q., & Wang P. (2020). Investigation on mental health status of residents in Hubei Province during the epidemic period of coronavirus disease in 2019. Public health in China, 36(5), 657–660.
Zheng, L. (2015). The Impact of Internet Use on the Quality of Parent-child Relationships in Urban Families: A Survey from Changsha, Hunan Province. Hunan Social Sciences, 3, 100–104.
Mai, Y., Soh, K. G., & Saad, H. A. (2024). Effects of Active Video Games on Parent-Child Relationships among Overweight and Obese Adolescents in China: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(9), 1775–1784.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode