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

Brandeis University

Status and phase: Completed; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Self-control; Sedentary Lifestyle

Treatments: Behavioral: Self-control intervention; Behavioral: Control condition

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04522141

5P30AG048785 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

20100R

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 81 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 35 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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81 participants in 2 patient groups

Self-control treatment group

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Self-control intervention

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control condition