The goal of this research is to examine the addition of a digitally delivered social support training approach to an existing digital program designed to promote a physically active lifestyle among self-selected teams of adults who are not meeting physical activity guidelines. The main aims are to: 1. Determine if the social support training intervention promotes significantly greater changes in moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (such as a brisk walk) as measured by an accelerometer (research grade physical activity measurement device) at 3 months compared to the same intervention without social support training among self-selected teams of adults who are not meeting the physical activity guidelines. 2. Determine if the social support training intervention promotes significantly greater changes in social support, motivation, accountability, and autonomy social support (free from excessive control and encouraging one's free will) at 3 months and 12 months compared to the same intervention without social support training. 3. Determine if the social support training intervention promotes significantly greater changes in moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity as measured by an accelerometer at 12 months compared to the same intervention without social support training. 4. Explore whether social support mediates increased and sustained moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity among the entire sample of participants.
Self-selected teams of 3-8 insufficiently active adults (about 60 teams comprised of a total of 300 participants) will be randomized to receive either a 3-month, theory-based, technology-delivered physical activity intervention characterized by personalized physical activity goals, a wearable physical activity tracker, electronic feedback, and behavior change modules embedded within a mobile-compatible app (Team) or the same intervention plus digitally delivered social support training (Team+Training). Outcome assessments will be completed at baseline, 3, and 12 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
300
Twelve theory-based physical activity behavior change lessons/modules during the course of the 3-month intervention.
Personalized physical activity goals focused on moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity and steps. Physical activity (tracked with a Fitbit wearable smartwatch and synced with the Mobile STRIDES app) tracking component, displaying team and individual progress. Weekly individualized feedback messages crafted by a trained professional for the first month of the intervention.
For the experimental group, the Mobile STRIDES app also includes five social support training lessons/modules (during the course of the 3-month intervention) focused on providing guidance related to effective communication when exchanging social support for physical activity within a team. In addition, six team feedback messages will be delivered to respective teams throughout the course of the 3-month intervention to reinforce content taught via the training lessons/modules. A weekly poll will also be administered that complements the social support training lessons, with cumulative results displayed.
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
RECRUITINGChange in minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) at 3 months
Change in minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) from baseline to 3 months as measured by accelerometer
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Change in minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) at 12 months
Change in minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) from 3 months to 12 months as measured by accelerometer
Time frame: 3 months and 12 months
Change in supportive accountability at 3 months
Support Accountability Inventory adapted for physical activity and to query about one's team. Items rated on a Likert scale response format ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree) with a not applicable option, with higher total scores indicating higher perceived supportive accountability.
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Change in motivation at 3 months
Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire adapted for physical activity. Items scored using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = not at all to 7 = very true). Higher scores on the Autonomous Subscale indicate greater autonomous motivations for behavior change and higher scores on the Controlled Motivations subscale indicate higher controlled regulation.
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Change in supportive accountability at 12 months
Support Accountability Inventory adapted for physical activity and to query about one's team. Items rated on a Likert scale response format ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree) with a not applicable option, with higher total scores indicating higher perceived supportive accountability.
Time frame: 3 months and 12 months
Change in motivation at 12 months
Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire adapted for physical activity. Items scored using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = not at all to 7 = very true). Higher scores on the Autonomous Subscale indicate greater autonomous motivations for behavior change and higher scores on the Controlled Motivations subscale indicate higher controlled regulation.
Time frame: 3 months and 12 months
Change in autonomy support at 3 months
Important Other Climate Questionnaire adapted for physical activity and to query about one's team. Items rated on a Likert scale response format ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree) with a not applicable option, with higher total scores indicating higher perceived autonomy support.
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Change in autonomy support at 12 months
Important Other Climate Questionnaire adapted for physical activity and to query about one's team. Items rated on a Likert scale response format ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree) with a not applicable option, with higher total scores indicating higher perceived autonomy support.
Time frame: 3 months and 12 months
Change in social support for physical activity at 3 months
Social Support for Healthy Behaviors Questionnaire (physical activity support scale) adapted to query about one's team. Items scored using response options on a 5-point scale which ranges from almost never/not applicable to almost always, with higher mean scores indicating more support.
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Change in social support for physical activity at 12 months
Social Support for Healthy Behaviors Questionnaire (physical activity support scale) adapted to query about one's team. Items scored using response options on a 5-point scale which ranges from almost never/not applicable to almost always, with higher mean scores indicating more support.
Time frame: 3 months and 12 months
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