EFFECTS OF THE BUILT FAMILY LIFESTYLE PROGRAM ON HOME STRUCTURE AND ROUTINES

Introduction: The Be Unstoppable in Life (BUILT) Family Lifestyle Program was developed by the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Healthy Kids Lab in partnership with Chicago Park District (CPD). BUILT is designed to empower families to adopt and sustain healthy food, sleep, and exercise routines that optimize child focus and attention. Purpose: This analysis tested the effects of BUILT on family routines. Methods: A total of 44 children (M = 8.57 yrs., SD = 1.66; 46% female) and 26 parents (M = 39.56 yrs., SD = 7.65, 86% female) participated in the program from 08/2022 to 05/2024. Participants were enrolled in CPD programming across 6 parks. Families participated in either an 8-week online version consisting of 21 food, sleep, and exercise challenges or a 6-week in-person version with 13 challenges. Families received access to brief educational videos, activity trackers, and health coaching by UIC students and CPD staff. A subset of parents (N = 15) completed the Family Routines Inventory (FRI) at baseline and posttest. The FRI measures family cohesion, solidarity, order, and satisfaction. The measure yields a frequency score reflecting the extent to which there is structure and routine in the home (e.g., consistent bedtime) and an importance score reflecting the perceived importance of home routines.Pre and post change was assessed using paired samples t-tests and Hedges’ g effect sizes; frequency data were log transformed to achieve normality. Results: Paired samples t-tests depicted a significant change with home routine frequency in the in-person group (MChange = 6.50, SD = 2.26, t = 7.05, p < .001, g = 2.42) but not in the online group (MChange = -1.00, SD = 10.09, t = .30, p = .774, g = .09). Significance was also shown for perceived importance with in-person participants (MChange = 6.67, SD = 5.16, t = 3.16, p = 0.25, g = 1.29) but not with online participants (MChange = 1.44, SD = 6.64, t = .65, p = .532, g = .10). Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that the BUILT in person program outperformed the online program in using health behaviors to bring structure and routine to homes. Given the small sample size, results should be interpreted as hypothesis generating. Future studies will test relationships between program participation and home environment change, and home environment change and child mental health.