Testing Self-Control as a Behavior Change Mechanism to Increase Physical Activity

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

81 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-10-15

Study Completion Date

2022-01-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this study is to test self-control as a behavior change mechanism for physical activity and to investigate whether a smartphone-based self-control intervention can increase physical activity among sedentary middle-aged adults.

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Detailed Description

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It is widely known that being physically active is beneficial for one's health and well-being, yet only a small percentage of adults engage in the recommended amounts of physical activity. Research has shown that health-damaging behaviors such as a sedentary lifestyle can be attributed in part to a lack of self-control. There is some evidence that self-control strategies can be improved with targeted interventions. The overall aim of the proposed study is to test self-control as a behavior change mechanism for physical activity and to investigate whether a smartphone-based self-control intervention can increase physical activity among sedentary middle-aged and older adults. To test the effect of this self-control intervention, participants will be randomized into two conditions: The self-control treatment group and the control group. Both groups will track their daily physical activity using a Fitbit step counter over eight weeks. Additionally, the self-control intervention group will receive a 7-week smartphone-based self-control intervention to learn strategies how to potentiate desirable impulses or weaken undesirable ones. It is expected that the self-control treatment group will show greater increases in physical activity and that changes will last longer compared to the control group. Self-control is expected to mediate the relationship between condition and physical activity. It is predicted that the self-control treatment group will show greater changes in self-control compared to the control group and that people who increase more in self-control also increase more in their physical activity. Two versions of the MindHike smartphone application will be used to communicate with all participants. The self-control treatment group will receive a version delivering a self-control intervention. The control group will receive a minimal version without the interventional components. Both groups are matched in terms of contact frequency.

Conditions

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Sedentary Lifestyle Self-control

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Self-control treatment group

The self-control treatment group will wear a Fitbit step counter across 8 weeks. In addition, they will use the MindHike smartphone application across 8 weeks. Each day, the app sends the a reminder to wear the Fitbit as well as a short interventional input targeting self-control.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Self-control intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will wear a Fitbit for 8 weeks to record their daily activity data. The first week of the study will provide a baseline measurement of activity. Across the 8 weeks, participants receive daily reminders to wear their Fitbit. After the baseline week, participants will also receive interventional components that target self-control via the smartphone application MindHike. This intervention should help them achieve their activity goals. The self-control intervention teaches strategies how to potentiate desirable impulses and how to avoid undesirable impulses in daily life.

Control group

The control group will wear a Fitbit step counter across 8 weeks. In addition, they will use the MindHike smartphone application across 8 weeks. Each day, the app sends the a reminder to wear the Fitbit.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control condition

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will wear a Fitbit for 8 weeks to record their daily activity data. The first week of the study will provide a baseline measurement of activity. Participants in this condition receive daily reminders to wear their Fitbit through the MindHike smartphone application. Participants in the control group will be matched with the self-control intervention group for how much contact they have with the app and the researchers.

Interventions

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Self-control intervention

Participants will wear a Fitbit for 8 weeks to record their daily activity data. The first week of the study will provide a baseline measurement of activity. Across the 8 weeks, participants receive daily reminders to wear their Fitbit. After the baseline week, participants will also receive interventional components that target self-control via the smartphone application MindHike. This intervention should help them achieve their activity goals. The self-control intervention teaches strategies how to potentiate desirable impulses and how to avoid undesirable impulses in daily life.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Control condition

Participants will wear a Fitbit for 8 weeks to record their daily activity data. The first week of the study will provide a baseline measurement of activity. Participants in this condition receive daily reminders to wear their Fitbit through the MindHike smartphone application. Participants in the control group will be matched with the self-control intervention group for how much contact they have with the app and the researchers.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* between 35-65 years of age
* fluent in English
* fit enough to walk for at least 20 min at a time
* owns a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria

* experienced a fall or heart problem/condition in the last 6 months
* is currently participating in an exercise program to increase physical activity
* is already physically active (physically active = exercise regularly 3 times per week, or more for at least 30min)
* was advised by a doctor to not walk due to health conditions

Minimum Eligible Age

35 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes