Impact of a father–daughter physical activity program on girls’ social–emotional well-being: A randomized controlled trial.

• DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000374
• Publication Date: 2019-01-14T18:19:30Z
• Authors: Myles D. Young; David R. Lubans; Alyce T. Barnes; Narelle Eather; Emma R. Pollock; Philip J. Morgan
• Keywords: Daughter; Prosocial Behavior

To increase girls' well-being, strategies are needed to optimize their social-emotional competence during childhood. Although positive fathering is important for girls, many fathers discount unique influence and few participate in interventions. The Dads And Daughters Exercising Empowered (DADEE) program was developed engage daughters through shared physical activity experiences. This study examined the program's impact on well-being father-daughter relationship.Overall, 115 (age range: 29-53 years) 153 4-12 were randomized (1) DADEE (9 weekly educational practical sessions plus home-based challenges) or (2) a wait-list control. Assessments baseline, 2 months (postintervention), 9 (94% retention). Daughters' measured with Devereux Student Strengths Assessment composite. Secondary outcomes included additional indicators (e.g., global self-perception) validated measures of father involvement relationship quality.At months, intervention showed medium-to-large improvement overall (+24.9 units, 95% CI [8.6, 41.1], d = 0.6), when compared controls. Intervention also more likely show clinically meaningful improvements (54%) than controls (18%). Medium-to-large effects observed for: seven eight competencies personal responsibility, 0.4-0.9), quality (d 0.8, father-report; 0.5, daughter-report), daughters' prosocial behavior 0.3) several involvement. Most had improved by months. No emotional difficulties self-perception.This provided first experimental evidence that programs may improve relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).