Free Time 4 Wellness

Physical inactivity is a significant contributor to the risk of chronic diseases and poor health. This relationship is particularly salient for women of low socioeconomic position in the US; in this population, over sixty percent do not reach the recommended guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

The Free Time for Wellness program (FT4W) is a community-based intervention that aims to address specific barriers to physical activity faced by low-income mothers, including lack of childcare, limited time, and limited access to recreational space.

The intervention includes: 1) free childcare at free fitness classes, and 2) peer support activities including group messaging with a community champion, 3) group play dates and group volunteer activities.

Our international, interdisciplinary team is evaluating if FT4W is effective through a group randomized control trial. We are also determining why, how, and for whom it works through embedded qualitative methods, including observations and interviews. (NIH 5R01MD018609-02)

Jones C, Gibbons M, Magsamen-Conrad K, Ulanday KT, Watterson J, Oakley-Girvan I, Houghton LC and Gokal K*. "Mother's Health and Well-Being Matters: Is a Mediated Social Cohesion Public Health Intervention Feasible?” Am J Health Promot. 2021 Dec 15:8901171211055317. doi: 10.1177/08901171211055317. PMID: 34907785.

Houghton LC, Gibbons MP, Shekelle J, Oakley-Girvan I, Watterson JL, Magsamen-Conrad K, Jones C, Gokal K. Free Time For Wellness: a co-designed intervention utilizing social networks to encourage physical activity for cancer prevention among low resourced mothers. BMC Public Health. 2021 Oct 7;21(1):1805. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11775-9. PMID: 34620141; PMCID: PMC8499394.

Oakley-Girvan I, Watterson J, Jones C, Houghton L, Gibbons M, Gokal K, Magsamen-Conrad K. Use of Social Media for Cancer Prevention Through Neighborhood Social Cohesion: Protocol for a Feasibility Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2021;10(7):e28147. DOI: 10.2196/28147