Testing Self-Control as a Behavior Change Mechanism to Increase Physical Activity
Overview
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Sponsor
- Brandeis University
- Enrollment
- 81
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Self-Reported Physical Activity
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 3 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to test self-control as a behavior change mechanism for physical activity and to investigate whether a smartphone-based self-control intervention can increase physical activity among sedentary middle-aged adults.
Detailed Description
It is widely known that being physically active is beneficial for one's health and well-being, yet only a small percentage of adults engage in the recommended amounts of physical activity. Research has shown that health-damaging behaviors such as a sedentary lifestyle can be attributed in part to a lack of self-control. There is some evidence that self-control strategies can be improved with targeted interventions. The overall aim of the proposed study is to test self-control as a behavior change mechanism for physical activity and to investigate whether a smartphone-based self-control intervention can increase physical activity among sedentary middle-aged and older adults. To test the effect of this self-control intervention, participants will be randomized into two conditions: The self-control treatment group and the control group. Both groups will track their daily physical activity using a Fitbit step counter over eight weeks. Additionally, the self-control intervention group will receive a 7-week smartphone-based self-control intervention to learn strategies how to potentiate desirable impulses or weaken undesirable ones. It is expected that the self-control treatment group will show greater increases in physical activity and that changes will last longer compared to the control group. Self-control is expected to mediate the relationship between condition and physical activity. It is predicted that the self-control treatment group will show greater changes in self-control compared to the control group and that people who increase more in self-control also increase more in their physical activity. Two versions of the MindHike smartphone application will be used to communicate with all participants. The self-control treatment group will receive a version delivering a self-control intervention. The control group will receive a minimal version without the interventional components. Both groups are matched in terms of contact frequency.
Investigators
Margie Lachman
Minnie and Harold Fierman Professor of Psychology
Brandeis University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •between 35-65 years of age
- •fluent in English
- •fit enough to walk for at least 20 min at a time
- •owns a smartphone
Exclusion Criteria
- •experienced a fall or heart problem/condition in the last 6 months
- •is currently participating in an exercise program to increase physical activity
- •is already physically active (physically active = exercise regularly 3 times per week, or more for at least 30min)
- •was advised by a doctor to not walk due to health conditions
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Self-Reported Physical Activity
Time Frame: Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3
International Physical Activity Questionnaire - short version. A continuous score will be calculated expressed as MET (Metabolic Equivalents) minutes per week: Total MET-min/week = (Walk METs\*min\*days) + (Mod METs\*min\*days) + Vig METs\*min\*days). A higher score means higher level of physical activity.
Objective Physical Activity
Time Frame: Average daily steps baseline week (week 1); average daily steps between pretest and posttest (week 2-8); average daily steps between posttest and followup (week 9-12)
Average daily steps baseline week, average daily steps between pretest and posttest, and average daily steps between posttest and followup. A higher score means more steps.
Self-Control
Time Frame: Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3
The Brief Self-Control Scale was used to measure self-control. Items are assessed from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much). A mean across all items will be calculated. A higher score means a higher score in self-control.
Weekly Self-Control
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7
The Brief Self-Control Scale was used to measure weekly self-control. Items are assessed from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much). A mean across all items will be calculated. A higher score means a higher score in self-control. Participants were asked to answer the items with respect to the last week.
Secondary Outcomes
- Satisfaction With Life(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)
- Stop & Go Switch Task(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)
- Backward Digit Span Test(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)
- Sense of Control(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)
- Big Five Personality Traits(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)
- Exercise Self-efficacy(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)
- Immediate Word List Recall Task(Baseline (Pretest) T1, Week 8 (Posttest) T2, Week 12 (Follow-up) T3)