Developing Real Incentives and Volition for Exercise

Although engaging in regular physical activity (PA) plays a critical role in reducing one's risk for numerous health problems, 4 out of 5 U.S. adults fail to meet national PA guidelines, with underserved groups (low income and racial/ethnic minority groups) having the highest rates of physical inactivity. Developing innovative strategies to motivate underserved groups to initiate PA has become an increasing national priority, but many implementation challenges remain, as evidenced by relatively low levels of program engagement among underserved groups. Increasingly, researchers have begun to show that rather than using a "one-size-fits all" intervention approach, developing interventions that target specific individual differences in cultural or social-cognitive factors is a highly effective approach for increasing engagement among underserved groups. Broadening this approach in a novel domain, the proposed research tests whether developing interventions that target differences in autonomous (internally-driven) vs. controlled (externally-driven) motivation is a feasible and useful approach for engaging African American women in PA initiation. The proposed study is a randomized pilot study comparing two intervention programs: a Challenge-focused program targeted toward high autonomous motivation and a Rewards-focused program targeted toward high controlled motivation. The Challenge-focused program targets greater PA enjoyment, PA valuation, and relatedness, and the Rewards-focused program targets greater PA competence and structured social support for PA. It is hypothesized that baseline motivation (measured with the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise questionnaire) will moderate treatment effects. Specifically, participants with relatively higher autonomous motivation will demonstrate greater improvements from baseline to post- in total physical activity when they receive the "matched" intervention (Challenge-Focused program) relative to the non-matched intervention (Rewards-Focused Program). Additionally, participants with relatively higher controlled motivation will demonstrate greater improvements from baseline to post- in total physical activity when they receive the "matched" intervention (Rewards-Focused program) relative to the non-matched intervention (Challenge-Focused Program). The results of this study will provide support of the feasibility and proof-of-concept for conducting a large scale randomized controlled trial.

Inclusion criteria

• Self-identify as African American
• Female
• At least 21 years old
• Engage in < 150 min. of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week for the last 3 months

Exclusion criteria

• Having a condition that would limit participation in PA (assessed with the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)
• Uncontrolled blood pressure (> 180/120 mm Hg).