Positive Psychology for Physical Activity Promotion

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity
Obesity

Interventions: Behavioral: PPPA
Behavioral: PA

Registration Number: NCT03826173

Lead Sponsor: Brown University

Brief Summary: This study is for physically inactive adults. Participants will be enrolled in the Positive Psychology and Physical Activity intervention designed to help them overcome barriers to physical activity, based on the principals of positive psychology.

This will involve six weekly one-hour group-based sessions at a local YMCA with a trained group leader. In addition to the in-person sessions, there will be text messages sent to participants about physical activity that include positive psychology content.

Detailed Description: The investigators propose to conduct a pilot study to test feasibility and proof-of-concept for a positive psychology intervention program to promote exercise among low-active overweight and obese adults. The program will be (a) a 6-week, group-based intervention, (b) delivered at local YMCAs, and (c) supplemented with text messaging. In an additive design, participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to PPPA (n = 40) versus a control intervention (n = 20) including only the standard PA promotion components of the PPPA intervention (i.e., PA education, self-monitoring, and goal-setting), with equal frequency of staff contact and text message delivery. All participants will be followed for 3 months, and will receive a 3-month YMCA membership to equate access to PA facilities. As a secondary aim the investigators will examine effect sizes for PPPA versus the standard PA intervention on putative mediators that may underlie the efficacy of PPPA in improving PA outcomes, including positive and negative affect, optimism, happiness, life satisfaction, social support for PA, and PA enjoyment. The proposed research will set the stage for an RCT to test a novel PA promotion intervention that can be readily disseminated.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 54

Inclusion Criteria

Sedentary or low-active, (defined as < 60 min/week of structured physical activity)
Able to receive and respond to a text message at the time of screening

Exclusion Criteria

History of coronary artery disease
History of stroke
History of uncontrolled hypertension
History of asthma
History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
History of diabetes
History of osteoarthritis or orthopedic problems that limit physical activity
BMI greater than 40

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Positive Psychology	PPPA	On a weekly basis, participants will engage in group-based intervention sessions that focus on personal strengths and the value of positive emotions and cognitions. Participants will receive daily text-messages addressing the content introduced during group sessions.
Physical Activity Promotion	PA	On a weekly basis, participants will engage in group-based intervention sessions that focus on the standard physical activity promotion components of the PPPA condition. Participants will receive daily text-messages addressing the content introduced during group sessions.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Minutes of Physical Activity Per Week	Measured at baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), and post-treatment (week 7).	Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Minutes of Physical Activity Per Week \[Time Frame: Measured at baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), and post-treatment (week 7).\]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Subjective Happiness	Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4, week 7, and week 10.	Measure of subjective happiness. Scores range from 4 to 28, with higher scores reflecting greater subjective happiness. Higher scores will reflect better outcomes of the intervention.
Change in Optimism	Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).	Life Orientation Test- Revised measures trait optimism. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores reflecting greater optimism. Higher scores will reflect better outcomes of the intervention.
Change in Physical Activity Enjoyment	Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).	Measures enjoyment of physical activity. Scores range from 18 to 126, with higher scores reflecting greater enjoyment. Will be assessed as a putative mediator.
Change in Positive and Negative Affect	Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).	The Positive and Negative Affect Scale measures changes in positive and negative affect. Both positive and negative affect sub-scales will be scored (scores range from 10 to 50 for each individual sub-scale), with higher scores on the positive affect scale and lower scores on the negative affect scale indicating a better outcome.
Change in Social Support for Exercise	Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).	Measures perceived social support for regular exercise. Scores range from 13 to 65, with higher scores reflecting greater social support. Will be assessed as a putative mediator.
Change in Satisfaction With Life	Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).	Measures subjective well-being. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores reflecting greater satisfaction with life and subjective well-being. Higher scores will reflect better outcomes of the intervention.