Active Families, Healthy Minds: A Family-Centered School Physical Activity Program for Early Adolescents

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a family-centered school physical activity program, titled "Active Families, Healthy Minds," designed to improve mental health among early adolescents (ages 10-14) in China. In response to high academic pressure and low physical activity levels, this program integrates structured physical education sessions at school with simple, interactive home-based activity routines involving parents. The study compares this family-supported intervention against a standard school-only physical activity program and a wait-list control group. The primary goal is to determine if involving parents in school-based physical activity initiatives leads to better mental well-being, increased habitual physical activity, and stronger family support compared to school-only approaches.