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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Evidence Tools
MCHbest. Physical Activity.

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Strategy. Social Supports

Approach. Promote social networks, friendships, and community support groups to help maintain and encourage physical activity

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Overview. Social supports include social networks, peer-to-peer accountability, and other behavioral encouragement methods to incorporate physical activity into a community effort. These intervention methods can include organizations and community groups that allow many people to be physically active together. Studies with positive outcomes used a variety of peer counseling and community efforts such as selecting student leaders in a school to act as peer supporters to help engage fellow classmates and promote physical activity.[1]

Evidence. Emerging Evidence. Strategies based on emerging evidence show promise but have not undergone extensive testing. While these approaches demonstrate potential, their effectiveness remains unconfirmed. Prioritize rigorous monitoring to ensure they achieve desired outcomes for all MCH populations.

Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.

Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:

  • Attendance and participation logs for group activities
  • Community partner collaboration records
  • Qualitative data

Outcome Components. This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes (Read more about these categories):

  • Health and Health Behaviors/Behavior Change. This strategy improves individuals' physical and mental health and their adoption of healthy behaviors (e.g., healthy eating, physical activity).

Detailed Outcomes. For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, access the peer-reviewed evidence and read the Intervention Results for each study.

Intervention Type. Counseling (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the Public Health Intervention Wheel).

Intervention Level. Individual/Family-Focused

Examples from the Field. Access descriptions of ESMs that use this strategy or aligned components.

Sample ESMs. Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework (see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).

Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)

  • Number of community-based social support networks led by Title V established for physical activity. (Assesses creation of supportive environments)
  • Number of peer leaders trained to promote physical activity within their social circles. (Measures capacity building for peer support)

Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)

  • Percent of social support programs that incorporate evidence-based group dynamics principles. (Measures use of best practices)
  • Percent of peer leaders representative of the communities they serve. (Assesses relevance of leadership)

Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)

  • Number of participants reporting increased motivation for physical activity due to social support. (Measures changes in attitudes)
  • Number of participants maintaining regular physical activity six months after joining a support network. (Assesses long-term behavior change)
  • Number of previously inactive individuals becoming regularly active through social support networks. (Quantifies behavior change in groups facing higher health risks)
  • Number of community-wide physical activity events organized by social support networks. (Measures community-level impact)

Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)

  • Percent of participants reporting increased motivation for physical activity due to social support. (Measures changes in attitudes)
  • Percent of participants maintaining regular physical activity six months after joining a support network. (Assesses long-term behavior change)
  • Percent of previously inactive individuals becoming regularly active through social support networks. (Quantifies behavior change in groups facing higher health risks)
  • Percent of community-wide physical activity events organized by social support networks. (Measures community-level impact)

Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:

  1. Move from measuring quantity to quality.
  2. Move from measuring effort to effect.
  3. Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
  4. The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.

Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.

References

1 Sebire SJ, Banfield K, Campbell R, Edwards MJ, Kipping R, Kadir B, Garfield K, Matthews J, Blair PS, Lyons RA, Hollingworth W, Jago R. A peer-led physical activity intervention in schools for adolescent girls: A feasibility RCT. Public Health Research. 2019;7(16).

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy, $3.5 M. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.