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Are Offline Meals Healthy Meals? A Field Experiment to Promote Healthier Eating in Families (OfflineMeals)

Primary Purpose

Health Behavior, Smartphone Addiction, Healthy Nutrition

Status
Recruiting
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Germany
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Time out from smartphone use during meal time
Control condition
Sponsored by
University of Wuppertal
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional prevention trial for Health Behavior

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • One parent who 1. lives in a household with at least one child aged between 6 and 14 years 2. eats a family meal (shared meal) with this child at least 5 days/week 3. owns an Android smartphone 4. has mobile internet on the smartphone 5. uses the smartphone on a daily basis 6. uses the smartphone at least sometimes during shared meals 5. agrees on participating in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Insufficient knowledge of German of the participating family member
  2. Involvement of the participating family member and/or child in a dietary program to reduce weight or plan to do so for the duration of the study.
  3. Holidays during the intervention period

Sites / Locations

  • ForsaRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Experimental group

Control group

Arm Description

Installation of the study app. At the beginning of the meal, participants press a button within the App to start a time out from the smartphone at the beginning of a meal (i.e. calls and message are blocked and participants need to press an extra button in order to leave the app). The app instructs all other family members to turn off their phones and to put them away. Then, the participants are instructed to take a picture with their smartphone from the meal table. A time out from the smartphone starts, meaning that all functions of the phone are locked. The time-out is over as soon as the participant presses the "stop" button. A short questionnaire about the meal is sent via App to the participating family member when the smartphone is used again. During the whole period of the study the App tracks the smartphone behavior (i.e., frequency and duration of smartphone use and the specific applications used). Active comparator: control group

Control points in time include all parts as in the experimental group except for number 3.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

(Un)healthy eating
Self-reported (un)healthy eating measured via intake of portions of fruits and vegetables, desserts, and sugar-sweetened beverages per day per child. Items according to Flückiger, L., Lieb, R., Meyer, A. H., Witthauer, C., & Mata, J. (2017). Day-to-day variations in health behaviors and daily functioning: Two intensive longitudinal studies. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 40, 307-319.
Parent-child interaction
Parent-child interaction. Items according to: Mata, J., Dallacker, M., & Hertwig, R. (2018). A matter of time: Longer meal duration increases healthy eating in children. An experimental study. Invited presentation, conference of the German Society for Psychology, Frankfurt/ Main, Germany.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Smartphone use
Objective measurement: An app tracks general smartphone use (duration, frequency of unlocking, which applications were used)
Media use
Media use during meal time is measured with items from Knobl, V., Dallacker, M., Hertwig, R., & Mata, J. (manuscript submitted for publication). Happy and healthy: How family mealtime routines relate to child nutritional health.
Meal duration
Meal duration is measured with one item according to Knobl, V., Dallacker, M., Hertwig, R., & Mata, J. (manuscript submitted for publication). Happy and healthy: How family mealtime routines relate to child nutritional health.
Technoference
Technoference is measured according to McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). "Technoference": The interference of technology in couple relationships and implications for women's personal and relational well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5, 85-98. doi: 10.1037/ppm0000065
Child's distraction
Child's distraction is measured according to McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). "Technoference": The interference of technology in couple relationships and implications for women's personal and relational well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5, 85-98. doi: 10.1037/ppm0000065

Full Information

First Posted
December 20, 2021
Last Updated
December 22, 2021
Sponsor
University of Wuppertal
Collaborators
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, University of Mannheim
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT05166252
Brief Title
Are Offline Meals Healthy Meals? A Field Experiment to Promote Healthier Eating in Families
Acronym
OfflineMeals
Official Title
Are Offline Meals Healthy Meals? A Field Experiment to Promote Healthier Eating in Families
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
December 2021
Overall Recruitment Status
Recruiting
Study Start Date
November 1, 2021 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
January 31, 2022 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
December 31, 2024 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
University of Wuppertal
Collaborators
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, University of Mannheim

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
First research findings suggest that the influence of digital media on children's and adolescents' health depends primarily on proper use and regulation. In line with Social Cognitive Theory, parents' own mobile device use is very important to regulate children's media use because parents are their children's role models. However, parents do not always behave as optimal role models: They use smartphones on playgrounds, in restaurants, as well as during family mealtimes. This usage of mobile devices leads to interruptions during face-to-face conversations or routines which is defined as "technoference". Studies among children and parents suggest that parental mobile device use is associated with fewer parent-child interactions. In addition, first studies investigated mobile device use at the dining table and showed that mothers had less interactions with their children during meal times when they used a mobile device compared to mothers who did not and their children were also less likely to try new and unfamiliar food. Along the same lines, lower parental mobile device use during mealtime is also associated with healthier body weight in children. AIM: Examination of the effect of a time out from smartphone use during a family meal on the parent-child interaction at the meal table and eating quality in comparison to family meals where participants use the smartphone as usual. DESIGN: The study is a within-family field experiment with daily assessments over 14 days (7 days for the experimental condition, 7 days for the control condition). Families will go through both, intervention and control condition with a break of 21 days in between. The assessment of the main and secondary outcomes is conducted at the baseline, over a 14 day daily diary phase and at the follow-up (directly after the daily diary phase). The sample will consist of 120 families with at least one child between the age of 6 to 14 years old. Only the participating adult in the study fills in the questionnaires. OUTCOMES: (Un)healthy eating and parent-child interaction constitute the main outcome, whereas technoference, mealtime duration, atmosphere at the meal table, and smartphone use frequency are secondary outcomes.
Detailed Description
Emerging mobile and digital technologies such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, and other mobile devices are an integral part in the daily lives of children, adolescents, and their families. The intensive use of mobile devices has both, positive aspects and negative side effects: The main advantages include access to information and making it easy to maintain social relationships. Potentially harmful risks for children include delays in small children's speech development, concentration disorders in primary school aged children or an increased consumption of sweet drinks and sweets. Especially parental media supervision is needed to regulate children's media use. In line with Social Cognitive Theory, parents' own mobile device use is also very important to regulate children's media use because parents are their children's role models. However, parents do not always behave as optimal role models: They use smartphones on playgrounds, as well as during family mealtimes. This usage of mobile devices leads to interruptions during face-to-face conversations or routines which is defined as "technoference". Studies among children and parents suggest that parental mobile device use is associated with fewer parent-child interactions. Especially using smartphones during shared meals could negatively influence interactions at the dining table as well as healthy eating habits in children. First findings suggest that the use of smartphones during family meals has detrimental effects on the family meal itself (e.g., interactions) as well as the health of the family members (e.g., diet quality and body weight). Importantly, these studies are all observational or cross-sectional, thus, experimental research is needed to understand whether taking the smartphone away from the family meal will actually lead to better interactions and healthier meals. While some experts suggest to ban smartphones from the dinner table, no one has systematically tested the effects. Thus, the aim of the proposed study is to experimentally test the effects of using smartphones at family meals versus banning them from the meal table and to examine potential mechanisms underlying this relation.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Health Behavior, Smartphone Addiction, Healthy Nutrition

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Prevention
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Crossover Assignment
Model Description
The study has an AB/BA crossover design, in which each participant receives the intervention and the control in a randomized order.
Masking
Participant
Masking Description
Families are assigned to the 2 conditions in a random order without knowing the aim of the intervention.
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
120 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Experimental group
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Installation of the study app. At the beginning of the meal, participants press a button within the App to start a time out from the smartphone at the beginning of a meal (i.e. calls and message are blocked and participants need to press an extra button in order to leave the app). The app instructs all other family members to turn off their phones and to put them away. Then, the participants are instructed to take a picture with their smartphone from the meal table. A time out from the smartphone starts, meaning that all functions of the phone are locked. The time-out is over as soon as the participant presses the "stop" button. A short questionnaire about the meal is sent via App to the participating family member when the smartphone is used again. During the whole period of the study the App tracks the smartphone behavior (i.e., frequency and duration of smartphone use and the specific applications used). Active comparator: control group
Arm Title
Control group
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Control points in time include all parts as in the experimental group except for number 3.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Time out from smartphone use during meal time
Intervention Description
One parent will be instructed to install a study app. Further, he/she press a button within the App to start a time out from the smartphone at the beginning of a meal (i.e. calls and message are blocked and the parent needs to press an extra button in order to leave the app). The app instructs all other family members to turn off their phones and to put them away. Then, the parent is instructed to take a picture with their smartphone from the "smartphone-free family meal table" . The time-out is over as soon as the parent presses the "stop" button.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Control condition
Intervention Description
The same as the experimental condition but without a timeout from smartphone use.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
(Un)healthy eating
Description
Self-reported (un)healthy eating measured via intake of portions of fruits and vegetables, desserts, and sugar-sweetened beverages per day per child. Items according to Flückiger, L., Lieb, R., Meyer, A. H., Witthauer, C., & Mata, J. (2017). Day-to-day variations in health behaviors and daily functioning: Two intensive longitudinal studies. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 40, 307-319.
Time Frame
Baseline, Daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total), Follow up (35 days after the first daily diary assessment)
Title
Parent-child interaction
Description
Parent-child interaction. Items according to: Mata, J., Dallacker, M., & Hertwig, R. (2018). A matter of time: Longer meal duration increases healthy eating in children. An experimental study. Invited presentation, conference of the German Society for Psychology, Frankfurt/ Main, Germany.
Time Frame
Daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total)
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Smartphone use
Description
Objective measurement: An app tracks general smartphone use (duration, frequency of unlocking, which applications were used)
Time Frame
During the daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total)
Title
Media use
Description
Media use during meal time is measured with items from Knobl, V., Dallacker, M., Hertwig, R., & Mata, J. (manuscript submitted for publication). Happy and healthy: How family mealtime routines relate to child nutritional health.
Time Frame
Baseline, During the daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total)
Title
Meal duration
Description
Meal duration is measured with one item according to Knobl, V., Dallacker, M., Hertwig, R., & Mata, J. (manuscript submitted for publication). Happy and healthy: How family mealtime routines relate to child nutritional health.
Time Frame
Baseline, During the daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total)
Title
Technoference
Description
Technoference is measured according to McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). "Technoference": The interference of technology in couple relationships and implications for women's personal and relational well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5, 85-98. doi: 10.1037/ppm0000065
Time Frame
Baseline, Daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total), Follow up (35 days after the first daily diary assessment)
Title
Child's distraction
Description
Child's distraction is measured according to McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). "Technoference": The interference of technology in couple relationships and implications for women's personal and relational well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5, 85-98. doi: 10.1037/ppm0000065
Time Frame
Baseline, Daily Diaries (after Baseline assessment; 14 days in total), Follow up (35 days after the first daily diary assessment)

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: One parent who 1. lives in a household with at least one child aged between 6 and 14 years 2. eats a family meal (shared meal) with this child at least 5 days/week 3. owns an Android smartphone 4. has mobile internet on the smartphone 5. uses the smartphone on a daily basis 6. uses the smartphone at least sometimes during shared meals 5. agrees on participating in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Insufficient knowledge of German of the participating family member Involvement of the participating family member and/or child in a dietary program to reduce weight or plan to do so for the duration of the study. Holidays during the intervention period
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Theda Radtke, Prof. Dr.
Phone
+49 202 - 439 5317
Email
radtke@uni-wuppertal.de
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Jutta Mata, Prof. Dr.
Email
mata@uni-mannheim.de
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Jutta Mata, Prof. Dr.
Organizational Affiliation
University of Mannheim
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Mattea Dallacker, Dr.
Organizational Affiliation
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Adaptive Rationality
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Theda Radtke, Prof. Dr.
Organizational Affiliation
Uniersity of Wuppertal
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Forsa
City
Frankfurt am Main
State/Province
Hessen
ZIP/Postal Code
60311
Country
Germany
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Mata Jutta, Prof. Dr.
Email
mata@uni-mannheim.de
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Jutta Mata, Prof. Dr.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Mattea Dallacker, Dr.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Theda Radtke, Prof. Dr.

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
IPD Sharing Plan Description
We plan to provide the anonymized data set and the coding scheme.

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Are Offline Meals Healthy Meals? A Field Experiment to Promote Healthier Eating in Families

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