Using Existing Social Ties to Promote Physical Activity: Effects of Digitally Delivered Team Social Support Training
University of South Carolina
Summary
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.
Description
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.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years