Exercise Behavior Among Young Adults Study
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 24 |
| Updated: | 4/28/2016 |
| Start Date: | August 2013 |
| End Date: | December 2016 |
The rate of adult obesity in the United States has increased more than two times since 1970,
and the rate of child-teen obesity has increased by four times. One of the antecedents of
obesity is an inactive lifestyle. Exercise has been known to be associated with increases in
both physical and mental health by increasing longevity, preventing risk of obesity,
coronary heart disease, and hypertension, and increasing self-esteem and overall quality of
life. The broad aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of
psychoeducational training to increase exercise activity initiation and maintenance in young
adults.
The goal of this study is to compare three training approaches for college students to
increase exercise behavior. One approach provides general information on the different types
of exercises and benefits of engaging in exercise behavior after an initial questionnaire
assessment session. A second approach includes the general exercise information and
questionnaire assessment as well as training on how to create specific goal intentions
(i.e., implementation intentions) to aid in exercise initiation. A third approach uses all
the components of the second approach but also tests the utility of a personality-informed
module by incorporating concepts from the theory of learned industriousness. It is expected
that the third approach will be the most effective in helping participants initiate and
maintain their exercise activities during the course of the study duration.
and the rate of child-teen obesity has increased by four times. One of the antecedents of
obesity is an inactive lifestyle. Exercise has been known to be associated with increases in
both physical and mental health by increasing longevity, preventing risk of obesity,
coronary heart disease, and hypertension, and increasing self-esteem and overall quality of
life. The broad aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of
psychoeducational training to increase exercise activity initiation and maintenance in young
adults.
The goal of this study is to compare three training approaches for college students to
increase exercise behavior. One approach provides general information on the different types
of exercises and benefits of engaging in exercise behavior after an initial questionnaire
assessment session. A second approach includes the general exercise information and
questionnaire assessment as well as training on how to create specific goal intentions
(i.e., implementation intentions) to aid in exercise initiation. A third approach uses all
the components of the second approach but also tests the utility of a personality-informed
module by incorporating concepts from the theory of learned industriousness. It is expected
that the third approach will be the most effective in helping participants initiate and
maintain their exercise activities during the course of the study duration.
The aims of the study (mentioned in the Brief Summary) will be addressed using a 6-month
multi-wave assessment of approximately 200 college students. Participants will be randomly
assigned to one of the three approaches once it is determined they meet study criteria.
Random assignment will occur when the participants are scheduled for the first session.
All participants will partake in three group sessions. The first session will take
approximately 2 hours to complete. The second and third sessions will be scheduled 2 and 6
months after the first session and will take approximately 45 minutes each to complete.
In the initial session for the first approach, the group session will include discussion of
what constitutes regular physical activity and benefits of exercise and basic tips on the
activity itself. Guidelines for prescribing suggested exercises will be based on
recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as risks
associated with exercise and how they can be reduced.
In the initial session for the second approach, the group session will include discussion of
all the components from the first approach, but with more emphasis on how to create
implementation intentions. Discussions will revolve around possible barriers to exercise
plans and how to overcome those barriers by making specific plans of when and where to
exercise, along with designating which types of exercises they will perform and for how long
(or how many repetitions).
In the initial session for the third approach, the group session will include discussion of
all the components from the second approach as well as include findings on industriousness.
Participants will be directed to think about and generate solutions to how they can become
more industrious despite the difficulties they may face and relate these solutions to help
them engage in more exercise behavior.
For all approaches, participants will complete questionnaires regarding aspects of their
personality, attitudes regarding exercise, beliefs about the positive and negative effects
of exercise, confidence in engaging in exercise despite barriers, and current levels of
exercise. Participants' body mass index will also be measured. All participants will be
given an exercise booklet tailored to their respective approaches to record their exercise
behavior during the three weeks following the initial session. They will also be loaned a
pedometer that will be used to track their overall daily activities for the same three-week
period. Participants in the third approach will also receive booster contacts (to encourage
them to think about their efforts and monitoring of physical activity) every two weeks
starting after the three-week tracking period until their six-month follow up (total of 11
booster contacts).
The first session will be video and audio recorded to check on and ensure presentation
consistency. At the end of the first session, participants will be given a post-session
survey to gauge how well materials were presented and to determine how much information
participants felt they gained from the session. When participants return their daily
exercise diaries and pedometers, they will also complete a condensed set of measures
(similar to those in the first session) to track any changes experienced during the
three-week tracking period.
For the 2- and 6-month follow-up sessions, participants in all approaches will complete the
same questionnaires as in the initial session and have their body mass index measured.
Power analyses conducted via G*Power, 3.1.6 indicated that 159 participants will be needed
to detect an effect size of F of 0.25 with alpha error probability at 0.05 and power at 1-Β
=.80. Oversampling by 25% will occur to account for possible attrition from the study,
thereby making the target N = 200.
multi-wave assessment of approximately 200 college students. Participants will be randomly
assigned to one of the three approaches once it is determined they meet study criteria.
Random assignment will occur when the participants are scheduled for the first session.
All participants will partake in three group sessions. The first session will take
approximately 2 hours to complete. The second and third sessions will be scheduled 2 and 6
months after the first session and will take approximately 45 minutes each to complete.
In the initial session for the first approach, the group session will include discussion of
what constitutes regular physical activity and benefits of exercise and basic tips on the
activity itself. Guidelines for prescribing suggested exercises will be based on
recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as risks
associated with exercise and how they can be reduced.
In the initial session for the second approach, the group session will include discussion of
all the components from the first approach, but with more emphasis on how to create
implementation intentions. Discussions will revolve around possible barriers to exercise
plans and how to overcome those barriers by making specific plans of when and where to
exercise, along with designating which types of exercises they will perform and for how long
(or how many repetitions).
In the initial session for the third approach, the group session will include discussion of
all the components from the second approach as well as include findings on industriousness.
Participants will be directed to think about and generate solutions to how they can become
more industrious despite the difficulties they may face and relate these solutions to help
them engage in more exercise behavior.
For all approaches, participants will complete questionnaires regarding aspects of their
personality, attitudes regarding exercise, beliefs about the positive and negative effects
of exercise, confidence in engaging in exercise despite barriers, and current levels of
exercise. Participants' body mass index will also be measured. All participants will be
given an exercise booklet tailored to their respective approaches to record their exercise
behavior during the three weeks following the initial session. They will also be loaned a
pedometer that will be used to track their overall daily activities for the same three-week
period. Participants in the third approach will also receive booster contacts (to encourage
them to think about their efforts and monitoring of physical activity) every two weeks
starting after the three-week tracking period until their six-month follow up (total of 11
booster contacts).
The first session will be video and audio recorded to check on and ensure presentation
consistency. At the end of the first session, participants will be given a post-session
survey to gauge how well materials were presented and to determine how much information
participants felt they gained from the session. When participants return their daily
exercise diaries and pedometers, they will also complete a condensed set of measures
(similar to those in the first session) to track any changes experienced during the
three-week tracking period.
For the 2- and 6-month follow-up sessions, participants in all approaches will complete the
same questionnaires as in the initial session and have their body mass index measured.
Power analyses conducted via G*Power, 3.1.6 indicated that 159 participants will be needed
to detect an effect size of F of 0.25 with alpha error probability at 0.05 and power at 1-Β
=.80. Oversampling by 25% will occur to account for possible attrition from the study,
thereby making the target N = 200.
Inclusion Criteria:
- be currently enrolled in full-time university coursework
- be between 18 and 24 years old
- understand and respond to screening questions in English
- be able to read at a Grade 6 level
- have adequate health, as assessed by having a body mass index between 18.5 and 29.9
(anyone with a BMI of 30+ is considered obese; National Heart, Lung, & Blood
Institute, 2012) to ensure that regular, moderate to intense exercise activity will
not negatively affect health
- identify as individuals who have tried to initiate and continue an exercise regimen
sometime in the past but have been unable to maintain the activity
- indicate the desire to initiate physical activity at the current time
- be willing to attempt to maintain an exercise schedule during the three-week
intervention period to which they will be randomly assigned
- be willing to participate in the 2-month and 6-month follow up periods
Exclusion Criteria:
- not already be meeting current USDHHS physical activity recommendations (i.e., at
least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week)
- not have major cognitive impairments (i.e., assessed by whether they can understand
and respond adequately to all screening questions)
- not report consuming more than three (women) or four (men) alcoholic drinks per day
(as this may interfere with their ability to engage in physical activity and confound
study results)
- not be pregnant
- not have children
- not have preexisting physical limitations or recent injuries
- not have major cognitive impairments (i.e., assessed by whether they can understand
and respond adequately to all screening questions)
We found this trial at
1
site
5050 Anthony Wayne Dr
Detroit, Michigan 48201
Detroit, Michigan 48201
(313) 577-2424
Principal Investigator: Phuong T Vo, BA
Wayne State University Founded in 1868, Wayne State University is a nationally recognized metropolitan research...
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