Enduring Exercise Habits
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 100 |
| Updated: | 8/18/2018 |
| Start Date: | January 31, 2018 |
| End Date: | December 2020 |
| Contact: | Katherine L. Milkman, PhD |
| Email: | ppandilo@wharton.upenn.edu |
| Phone: | 4014519623 |
The objective of this study is to test whether the interventions offering short-term
incentives (points redeemable for prizes), specific cued plans, and science-backed tips can
help with creating enduring exercise habits. There are four (4) sub-studies within this
protocol.
incentives (points redeemable for prizes), specific cued plans, and science-backed tips can
help with creating enduring exercise habits. There are four (4) sub-studies within this
protocol.
The four sub-studies are:
1. Sweet spot
Past studies have shown that steady routines associated with stable cues are a hallmark
of successful habits. However, recent research has demonstrated that incentivizing an
overly rigid routine (e.g., every workout must be at the same time each day) creates a
less lasting exercise habit than incentivizing a flexible exercise routine (e.g.,
workouts can be at any time of day). In this study, the investigators examine whether
offering higher rewards for exercise that occurs at a planned, routine time than for
exercise at other times, but still offering some rewards for exercise outside of these
planned moments, may improve over total flexibility for producing lasting habits.
2. Falling off the Wagon (FOTW)
In the long run, missing one workout won't make much difference to a person's overall
health. Psychologically, however, missing a workout may lead people to feel they've
already failed at meeting their fitness goals, zapping their motivation to exercise in
the future. In this study, the investigators examine whether offering 50% larger
incentive for exercise to people after they miss a planned workout leads to more
sustained exercise habits than incentivizing all workouts equally.
3. Think Twice
Studies have shown that people tend to fall into the planning fallacy -- optimistically
overestimating their performance in some future activity. In this study, the
investigators examine whether people who the investigators taught about the planning
fallacy would make more realistic exercise plans and adhere to those plans better.
4. Weekly vs. Daily Routines (WDR)
This study will examine whether incentivizing people to create a daily routine that is
consistent every day for a month or a weekly routine that is consistent every week for a
month helps people build a more lasting exercise habit. In the daily routines condition,
participants will be required to schedule workouts (and associated text reminders) at the
same time of day on every weekday, and the same time of day on each weekend throughout our
four week treatment period. In the weekly routines condition, participants will be allowed to
schedule workouts (and associated text reminders) at different times on different days of the
week, but their schedule must be the same for each of the four weeks of our four week
treatment period.
1. Sweet spot
Past studies have shown that steady routines associated with stable cues are a hallmark
of successful habits. However, recent research has demonstrated that incentivizing an
overly rigid routine (e.g., every workout must be at the same time each day) creates a
less lasting exercise habit than incentivizing a flexible exercise routine (e.g.,
workouts can be at any time of day). In this study, the investigators examine whether
offering higher rewards for exercise that occurs at a planned, routine time than for
exercise at other times, but still offering some rewards for exercise outside of these
planned moments, may improve over total flexibility for producing lasting habits.
2. Falling off the Wagon (FOTW)
In the long run, missing one workout won't make much difference to a person's overall
health. Psychologically, however, missing a workout may lead people to feel they've
already failed at meeting their fitness goals, zapping their motivation to exercise in
the future. In this study, the investigators examine whether offering 50% larger
incentive for exercise to people after they miss a planned workout leads to more
sustained exercise habits than incentivizing all workouts equally.
3. Think Twice
Studies have shown that people tend to fall into the planning fallacy -- optimistically
overestimating their performance in some future activity. In this study, the
investigators examine whether people who the investigators taught about the planning
fallacy would make more realistic exercise plans and adhere to those plans better.
4. Weekly vs. Daily Routines (WDR)
This study will examine whether incentivizing people to create a daily routine that is
consistent every day for a month or a weekly routine that is consistent every week for a
month helps people build a more lasting exercise habit. In the daily routines condition,
participants will be required to schedule workouts (and associated text reminders) at the
same time of day on every weekday, and the same time of day on each weekend throughout our
four week treatment period. In the weekly routines condition, participants will be allowed to
schedule workouts (and associated text reminders) at different times on different days of the
week, but their schedule must be the same for each of the four weeks of our four week
treatment period.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Has 24 Hour Fitness Membership
Exclusion Criteria:
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