This study will test the effects of a social media game on the physical activity of older adult women. The game will consist of playful weekly challenges that require sharing photographs on a private social media group and also wearing an activity monitor to track steps. Participants will be randomized to this game group or to receive the activity monitor only.
Older adult women are at risk for negative health impacts of physical inactivity, but current strategies to increase their activity have had disappointing long-term results. The intervention tested in this study seeks to test an innovative intervention that targets older womens' perceptions of enjoyment and their personal identity and values. The investigators will test the efficacy of a 12-month social media-based physical activity intervention for sedentary older adult women. Participants will be randomized to receive a standard Fitbit-only intervention or to an enhanced Fitbit + weekly social challenges intervention. The investigators hypothesize that participants in the enhanced intervention will demonstrate greater increases in autonomous regulation and objectively-measured steps as compared to those in the standard intervention. The investigators will also measure outcomes after a 6 month maintenance period (18 months after beginning the intervention). Additional outcomes will include engagement with the social network and self-reported playful experiences.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
300
Participants will engage in weekly challenges that require them to take photographs of interesting things they discover during their walks. They will post and discuss these photographs with other participants on a private social media page. They will track their steps using a wearable activity monitor and receive brief standard self-regulatory counseling.
Participants will track their steps using a wearable activity monitor and receive brief standard self-regulatory counseling.
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, United States
Walking physical activity as measured by daily steps at 12 months
Mean of daily steps taken from accelerometers worn for a 7 day period
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Walking physical activity as measured by daily steps at 6 months
Mean of daily steps taken from accelerometers worn for a 7 day period
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Walking physical activity as measured by daily steps at 18 months
Mean of daily steps taken from accelerometers worn for a 7 day period
Time frame: Baseline to 18 months
Intrinsic regulation
Self-reported intrinsic regulation on a scale from 0 (least motivated) to 4 (most motivated) using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire - 3
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Integrated regulation
Self-reported integrated regulation on a scale from 0 (least motivated) to 4 (most motivated) using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire - 3
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Autonomous regulation
Composite of subscales for intrinsic, integrated, and identified regulation as measured on a scale from 0 (least motivated) to 4 (most motivated) using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire - 3
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Basic psychological needs
Perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness on a scale from 1 (don't agree) to 5 (completely agree) using the Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale
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Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Physical activity as measured by minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity at 6 months
Mean daily minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity taken from accelerometers for a 7 day period
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Physical activity as measured by minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity at 12 months
Mean daily minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity taken from accelerometers for a 7 day period
Time frame: Baseline to 12 months
Physical activity as measured by minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity at 18 months
Mean daily minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity taken from accelerometers for a 7 day period
Time frame: Baseline to 18 months