The goal of this substudy is to determine if a brief single-session-intervention (SSI) coupled with different incentive strategies to support engaging in wellness-related activities.
The goal of this substudy is to determine if a brief single-session-intervention (SSI) coupled with different incentive strategies to support engaging in wellness-related activities. Participants will be given a brief SSI that will provide education and strategies to improve a wellness related goal (e.g., improve sleep, improve physical activity, improve mental health). They will then be asked to select a series of wellness related-behaviors in support of that goal to complete each day (e.g., going for a 20 minute walk, going to bed at a specific time). Participants will be randomized to one of four incentive conditions and receive rewards based on their completion of such activities. The aim of the study is to determine which incentive strategy may prove most effective in promoting wellness behaviors. There are two main factors (Recipient x Restoration) that will create four distinct groups. Recipient refers to who will receive the incentive - either an individual or a charity. Restoration refers to what happens when a participant misses a day of completing their goal - they are given a restorative (additional) incentive to participants on the following day or not given such an incentive. The primary hypothesis is that individuals receiving the incentive with a restorative element will result in significantly more activities completed. Additional hypotheses regarding differences among the other groups are not made given the lack of prior work on these strategies in this area.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
200
The participant receives incentives directly if they complete an activity on a given day.
The participant receives incentives directly if they complete an activity on a given day. They are given an additional incentive to return to completing activities if they did not complete an activity on a prior day.
The participant earns compensation for charity if they complete an activity on a given day.
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont, United States
RECRUITINGActivity Completion
Number of wellness activities completed
Time frame: up to 6 months
Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale - 21
Summary Score on Depression Scale, higher scores indicate greater depression
Time frame: up to 6 months
Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale - 21
Summary Score on Anxiety Scale, higher scores indicate greater anxiety
Time frame: up to 6 months
Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale - 21
Summary Score on Stress Scale, higher scores indicate greater stress
Time frame: up to 6 months
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale
Summary Score on the Measure, higher scores indicate better well-being
Time frame: up to 6 months
Oura Ring Sleep Index
Biometric Sleep recorded from an Oura Ring, higher scores indicate better sleep
Time frame: up to 6 months
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The participant earns compensation for charity if they complete an activity on a given day. They are given an additional incentive for charity to return to completing activities if they did not complete an activity on a prior day.