Caregiver Experiences of a Peer Mentor Family Physical Activity Programme in England: A Qualitative Interview Study.
Rebecca Symes, Leah Jayes, Elizabeth Orton
PMID 39994919WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers valued weekly volunteer contact for emotional support and accountability more than for activity plans alone.
Teens often disengaged, so family-wide participation was inconsistent. Volunteers provided practical help and confidence building, filling gaps in parenting support during pandemic restrictions.
Key findings
01Caregivers viewed improvements in mental wellbeing and emotional support from volunteers as more important than increases in physical activity levels.
02Teenagers in participating families often rejected engagement with the volunteer, leading to limited impact on family activity levels in those households.
03Volunteers provided holistic support including practical help in homes and acting as confidantes, which caregivers described as filling a gap in parenting and emotional support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
All participants were White British, which does not reflect the wider programme cohort (88% White British) and limits generalisability. The study was conducted during the coronavirus pandemic, which severely disrupted programme delivery and may have influenced caregiver responses and engagement levels. Only caregivers were interviewed; the perspectives of children, teenagers, and the volunteers themselves were not included. Recruitment relied on charity coordinators, which may have introduced gatekeeper bias by selecting families who were more engaged or accessible. The sample size was small (13 participants), and while thematic saturation was claimed, it may not represent the full range of experiences in the population.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the positive caregiver feedback on emotional support as evidence that the programme increased physical activity levels. The study reports that some families saw no change in activity, and the primary benefit described by participants was mental wellbeing and bonding, not physical activity outcomes.