To test the efficacy of the 5R Shared Leadership program in older adults on participants' identification with their walking group, group cohesion, walking activity, and well-being, compared to a regular group walking program, the investigators conducted a cluster randomised trial.
All walking groups participated in a 12-week structured group walking program. Half of these walking groups were randomly assigned to the intervention condition and received additionally the 5R Shared Leadership Program
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
503
The manualised 5RS program aims to develop the leadership qualities of peer leaders by teaching them how to create, embody, advance, and embed a collective sense of 'us' in their teams. More specifically, 5RS consists of two key components that involve (1) implementing a structure of shared leadership, and (2) strengthening the identity leadership skills of the appointed peer leaders (Fransen et al., 2020). Fransen, K., Haslam, S. A., Steffens, N. K., Mallett, C. J., Peters, K., Mertens, N., \& Boen, F. (2020). All for us and us for all: Introducing the 5R Shared Leadership Program. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51, 101762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101762 Haslam, S. A., Steffens, N. K., Peters, K., Boyce, R. A., Mallett, C. J., \& Fransen, K. (2017). A social identity approach to leadership development: The 5R program. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 16(3), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1027/1866-5888/a000176
Participants engaged in an evidence-based 12-week structured walking program, which aimed to enhance participants' physical activity and aerobic fitness levels based on personalised walking schedules and weekly group walks organised by the community-based meeting points.
KU Leuven
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
Identity leadership
4-item Identity Leadership Inventory-Short Form
Time frame: 12 weeks
Group identification scale
To assess participants' identification with their walking group, the investigators use the 4-item group identification measure (e.g., "I am glad to be a member of this walking group."), as suggested by Doosje et al. (1995). The cognitive, evaluative, and affective aspects of identification are evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Doosje B, Ellemers N, Spears R. Perceived intragroup variability as a function of group status and identification. J Exp Soc Psychol. 1995;31(5):410-36.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Group cohesion
Group Environment Questionnaire - A higher score corresponds with a higher group cohesion
Time frame: 12 weeks
Well-being
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. It comprises 14 positively phrased items (e.g., "I've been feeling good about myself") rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). A higher score corresponds with a higher well-being
Time frame: 12 weeks
Walking activity
International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form
Time frame: 12 weeks
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