GrOup-based Physical Activity for oLder Adults Trial

NCT ID: NCT02023632

Last Updated: 2015-09-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 554 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2015-08-31

Brief Summary

Regular physical activity is associated with a diverse range of physical and mental health outcomes, with the effects being particularly pronounced among older adults. Despite these health benefits, involvement in physical activity has been found to decline over the course of adulthood with older adults in particular risk of inactivity. A growing body of evidence, however, suggests that group-based settings that are sensitive to both the age-composition and gender-composition of their constituent members may represent an opportune means of supporting the improved adoption and maintenance of older adults in physical activity programs. The overall purpose of this feasibility trial is to test the effectiveness of a group-based physical activity program for older adults that is sensitive to both age-congruent and gender-congruent contextual factors, in supporting their sustained involvement in physical activity.

Detailed Description

The results of prominent meta-analytic reviews suggest that when people exercise in groups they tend to sustain their involvement to a greater extent than when they exercise on their own. Despite the potential for groups to sustain long-term physical activity behaviours, there appears to be an important caveat that comes with exercising with others: if people perceive themselves to be similar to other members of a given group, in terms of salient underlying qualities, this corresponds positively with their attraction to, and level of involvement within, that group. If, however, people perceive themselves to be distinctly different from others within their social group, this is likely to undermine their attraction to, and involvement in that group. Recent research by Dr. Beauchamp and his team suggests that across the adult age spectrum people report a positive preference for exercising within groups that are comprised of others their own age, and when they participate in such classes they display higher levels of adherence to the group. In a similar regard, people report comparable positive preferences for same-gender rather than mixed-gender physical activity group settings. However, to date, research has yet to examine these effects using an experimental (RCT) design. This constitutes the purpose of this present trial.

Conditions

Motor Activity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Similar-Age-Same-Gender (SASG)

Participants in this trial arm will be of similar age (65+) and of the same gender (i.e., separate groups for male older adults and female older adults).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Similar-Age-Same-Gender (SASG)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The core feature of the program is that it is exclusively for those of a similar age and same gender. Such an environment was reported to provide opportunities for social connectedness, as well as personal comfort. Secondly, exercise class instructors are volunteers- both providing 'similar-models' to enhance efficacy as well as reduce costs associated with instructors. Consistent with social identity and self-categorization perspectives, the program also makes use of a series of strategies to foster intra-group attraction and group identity. For many of the participants a major draw of the program is that it provides opportunities for the older adults to connect with one another after the classes have ended.

Similar-Age-Mixed-Gender (SAMG)

This group will include participants of both genders who are similar aged (65+).

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Similar-Age-Mixed-Gender (SAMG)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The SAMG physical activity condition will mirror the SASG group condition, but will be open to older adults from both genders. The same strategies to those used within the SASG condition will also be utilized (development of a unique program name, T-shirts, opportunities to socialize after the program), and will be offered three days per week (Mon, Wed, Fri, or Tues, Thurs, Sat). Older adults will also be recruited to be instructors for the group classes (= 65 years), with both males and females invited to occupy these instructional roles. (As with the SASG condition, training will take place between September and December 2013, through the respective YMCA centres. The YMCA will oversee the training of these volunteers through their Fitness Leader Training Program).

Mixed-Age-Mixed-Gender (MASG)

This group is used as the 'standard' group based exercise course; including those of mixed age and mixed gender.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Mixed-Age-Mixed-Gender (MASG)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The third condition utilized within the RCT is designed to reflect 'standard' group based exercises that one sees in typical physical activity centres. Specifically, these classes are not restricted to participants on the basis of age or gender, and as such older adults will be participating in groups comprised of people younger than themselves as well as those of both gender.

Interventions

Similar-Age-Same-Gender (SASG)

The core feature of the program is that it is exclusively for those of a similar age and same gender. Such an environment was reported to provide opportunities for social connectedness, as well as personal comfort. Secondly, exercise class instructors are volunteers- both providing 'similar-models' to enhance efficacy as well as reduce costs associated with instructors. Consistent with social identity and self-categorization perspectives, the program also makes use of a series of strategies to foster intra-group attraction and group identity. For many of the participants a major draw of the program is that it provides opportunities for the older adults to connect with one another after the classes have ended.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Similar-Age-Mixed-Gender (SAMG)

The SAMG physical activity condition will mirror the SASG group condition, but will be open to older adults from both genders. The same strategies to those used within the SASG condition will also be utilized (development of a unique program name, T-shirts, opportunities to socialize after the program), and will be offered three days per week (Mon, Wed, Fri, or Tues, Thurs, Sat). Older adults will also be recruited to be instructors for the group classes (= 65 years), with both males and females invited to occupy these instructional roles. (As with the SASG condition, training will take place between September and December 2013, through the respective YMCA centres. The YMCA will oversee the training of these volunteers through their Fitness Leader Training Program).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Mixed-Age-Mixed-Gender (MASG)

The third condition utilized within the RCT is designed to reflect 'standard' group based exercises that one sees in typical physical activity centres. Specifically, these classes are not restricted to participants on the basis of age or gender, and as such older adults will be participating in groups comprised of people younger than themselves as well as those of both gender.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants must be 65 years of age or older (both males and females), be able to speak and read English, and not experience any contraindication which might prevent that person from participating in moderate-intensity physical activity. Participants will be required to complete PAR-Q+, and where necessary ePARmed-X.

Exclusion Criteria

• The only exclusionary criteria is that participants must be 65 years of age or older (both males and females), be able to speak and read English, and not experience any contraindication which might prevent that person from participating in moderate-intensity physical activity.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of British Columbia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Mark R Beauchamp, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of British Columbia

Locations

Surrey Family YMCA

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Langara YMCA

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Robert Lee YMCA

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Dunlop WL, Beauchamp MR. Birds of a feather stay active together: a case study of an all-male older adult exercise program. J Aging Phys Act. 2013 Apr;21(2):222-32. doi: 10.1123/japa.21.2.222. Epub 2012 Aug 14.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 22899819 (View on PubMed)

Rikli RE, Jones CJ. Functional fitness normative scores for community-residing older adults, ages 60-94. Journal of aging and physical activity 7:162-181, 1999.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Beauchamp M, Dunlop WL, Downey SM, Estabrooks PA. First impressions count: perceptions of surface-level and deep-level similarity within postnatal exercise classes and implications for program adherence. J Health Psychol. 2012 Jan;17(1):68-76. doi: 10.1177/1359105311408156. Epub 2011 Jun 6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21646291 (View on PubMed)

Dunlop WL, Beauchamp MR. The relationship between intra-group age similarity and exercise adherence. Am J Prev Med. 2012 Jan;42(1):53-5. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.018.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 22176846 (View on PubMed)

Beauchamp MR, Carron AV, McCutcheon S, Harper O. Older adults' preferences for exercising alone versus in groups: considering contextual congruence. Ann Behav Med. 2007 Apr;33(2):200-6. doi: 10.1007/BF02879901.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 17447872 (View on PubMed)

Dunlop WL, Beauchamp MR. En-gendering choice: preferences for exercising in gender-segregated and gender-integrated groups and consideration of overweight status. Int J Behav Med. 2011 Sep;18(3):216-20. doi: 10.1007/s12529-010-9125-6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 20972657 (View on PubMed)

Shapcott KM, Carron AV, Burke SM, Bradshaw MH, Estabrooks PA.Member diversity and cohesion and performance in walking groups. Small Group Research 37, 701-730, 2006.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Dunlop WL, Beauchamp MR. Does similarity make a difference? Predicting cohesion and attendance behaviors within exercise group settings. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice 15(3): 258-66, 2011.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Beauchamp MR, Liu Y, Dunlop WL, Ruissen GR, Schmader T, Harden SM, Wolf SA, Puterman E, Sheel AW, Rhodes RE. Psychological mediators of exercise adherence among older adults in a group-based randomized trial. Health Psychol. 2021 Mar;40(3):166-177. doi: 10.1037/hea0001060.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 33630638 (View on PubMed)

Beauchamp MR, Ruissen GR, Dunlop WL, Estabrooks PA, Harden SM, Wolf SA, Liu Y, Schmader T, Puterman E, Sheel AW, Rhodes RE. Group-based physical activity for older adults (GOAL) randomized controlled trial: Exercise adherence outcomes. Health Psychol. 2018 May;37(5):451-461. doi: 10.1037/hea0000615.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29698019 (View on PubMed)

Beauchamp MR, Harden SM, Wolf SA, Rhodes RE, Liu Y, Dunlop WL, Schmader T, Sheel AW, Zumbo BD, Estabrooks PA. GrOup based physical Activity for oLder adults (GOAL) randomized controlled trial: study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2015 Jun 27;15:592. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1909-9.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 26116237 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

DCO150GP

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

H13-01593

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id