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NCT Number: NCT07130734

Digital Intervention for Physical Activity

The present study will assess the effects of a four-week digitally delivered intervention on physical activity and depressive symptoms among adults experiencing at least moderate depressive symptoms. The main questions this research aims to answer are:

* Does a digitally-delivered intervention increase physical activity levels? * Does a digitally-delivered intervention reduce symptoms of depression?

Researchers will compare an intervention promoting physical activity to a passive control (does not receive the intervention) group to see if the intervention reduces depressive symptoms and increases physical activity levels.

Participants will:

* Visit the laboratory at two separate time points before group assignment, separated by one week of physical activity monitoring * Be randomly assigned to complete four weeks of a digital intervention prompting engagement in physical activity or have their mental health symptoms monitored over four weeks (i.e., passive control group) * Visit the laboratory at two separate time points after the intervention, separated by one week of physical activity monitoring

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Key information

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Motor Activity Stress

Age range

19 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kinesiology Building

Auburn, Alabama, 36849, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Administrator, Business & Admin Services School of Kinesiology

CONTACT

[email protected]

334-844-1450

About this study

Procedures include four laboratory visits: two visits before the intervention and two visits after the intervention.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either four weeks of a digital intervention that prompts participants to engage in physical activity or a waitlist (passive) control condition. Participants will be randomized using a stratified approach using depressive symptoms and physical activity measured at pre-intervention as strata.

The digital intervention group will be instructed to download a Pathverse mobile application on their Apple or Android smartphone device. The Pathverse mobile application will be used as a research delivery platform that can send participants daily push notifications to engage in physical activity of their choice. During the second pre-intervention visit, each participant will select approximately five types of physical activity they find enjoyable that they would like to engage in over the four-week intervention. Participants will report on the physical activity they completed, along with the duration and intensity of each activity. Participants will have the choice of time of day as to when they would like to receive daily notifications on their device.

Members of the passive control group will be informed that their mental health will be monitored over four weeks as a control condition. After the study, they will be offered the digital PA intervention, if desired.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Between the ages of 19 and 40 years
  • Verbally fluent in English (i.e., must be able to speak or understand English)
  • No uncorrected visual or hearing impairment
  • Moderate depressive symptoms or greater of at least 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 screening instrument
  • Eligible to participate in physical activity
  • Physically inactive (i.e., engaging in less than 150 min of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity)
  • Owns an Apple or Android mobile device, willing to download the Pathverse app , and willing to keep the device on during the study period
  • Not currently pregnant

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants will not qualify for the current study if they do not meet the above inclusion criteria.

Treatment and study plan

Digital Physical Activity

Behavioral

The Pathverse mobile application platform will be downloaded on each participant's smartphone. Participants will be guided on how to download and use the application, as well as how to interact with the application during the intervention period. Participants will choose approximately five types of physical activity they enjoy before the intervention and will be prompted to complete these physical activities throughout the intervention. Participants will also self-report the duration and type of physical activity performed each day of the intervention.

Primary outcomes

  1. Depressive Symptoms

    Time frame: pre-intervention, at the two-week time point during the intervention, and immediately after the intervention

    Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) will be used to assess changes in symptoms of depression. The DASS-21 includes 7 items that assess for depression. Total scores for depression range from 0-42, with higher scores indicating greater depression severity.

  2. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

    Time frame: pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention

    Physical activity will be assessed using a wrist-worn accelerometer before and after the intervention. Physical activity outcomes will be calculated as amount of time spent in a specific intensity.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Christopher J Brush, Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

334-844-4483

Karly A Knudson, B.S.

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Auburn University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Digitally-Delivered Intervention to Prompt Physical Activity

Acronym: DPA

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 19, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 18, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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