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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03826173

Positive Psychology for Physical Activity Promotion

This study is for physically inactive adults. Participants will be enrolled in the Positive Psychology and Physical Activity intervention designed to help them overcome barriers to physical activity, based on the principals of positive psychology.

This will involve six weekly one-hour group-based sessions at a local YMCA with a trained group leader. In addition to the in-person sessions, there will be text messages sent to participants about physical activity that include positive psychology content.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Behavior Body Weight Motor Activity Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Physical Activity Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Brown University School of Public Health

Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, United States

About this study

The investigators propose to conduct a pilot study to test feasibility and proof-of-concept for a positive psychology intervention program to promote exercise among low-active overweight and obese adults. The program will be (a) a 6-week, group-based intervention, (b) delivered at local YMCAs, and (c) supplemented with text messaging. In an additive design, participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to PPPA (n = 40) versus a control intervention (n = 20) including only the standard PA promotion components of the PPPA intervention (i.e., PA education, self-monitoring, and goal-setting), with equal frequency of staff contact and text message delivery. All participants will be followed for 3 months, and will receive a 3-month YMCA membership to equate access to PA facilities. As a secondary aim the investigators will examine effect sizes for PPPA versus the standard PA intervention on putative mediators that may underlie the efficacy of PPPA in improving PA outcomes, including positive and negative affect, optimism, happiness, life satisfaction, social support for PA, and PA enjoyment. The proposed research will set the stage for an RCT to test a novel PA promotion intervention that can be readily disseminated.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Sedentary or low-active, (defined as < 60 min/week of structured physical activity)
  • Able to receive and respond to a text message at the time of screening

Exclusion criteria

  • History of coronary artery disease
  • History of stroke
  • History of uncontrolled hypertension
  • History of asthma
  • History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • History of diabetes
  • History of osteoarthritis or orthopedic problems that limit physical activity
  • BMI greater than 40

Treatment and study plan

PPPA

Behavioral

The intervention will focus on a) health benefits of PA, b) individualized PA intensity prescriptions and instruction on gauging PA intensity, c) goal-setting and self-monitoring, and d) tips on overcoming barriers to PA. Participants will be instructed to target 30-60 min/day 5 days/week of MVPA consistent with national guidelines. PA content will be concentrated in sessions 1 and 2, but content on goal-setting, self-monitoring, and overcoming barriers will continue throughout the 6-week period. The intervention includes activities that focus on identifying each individual's strengths, identifying/savoring positive experiences, engaging in constructive conversation, expressing gratitude, and strategies to maintain increased positive affect after the intervention has completed.

PA

Behavioral

The intervention will focus on (a) health benefits of PA, (b) individualized PA intensity prescriptions and instruction on how to gauge PA intensity, (c) goal-setting and self-monitoring, and (d) tips on overcoming barriers to PA, including time-management. Participants will be instructed to target 30-60 min/day 5 days/week of MVPA consistent with national guidelines. PA content will be concentrated in sessions 1 and 2, but content on goal-setting, self-monitoring, and overcoming barriers will continue throughout the 6-week period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Minutes of Physical Activity Per Week

    Time frame: Measured at baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), and post-treatment (week 7).

    Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Minutes of Physical Activity Per Week [Time Frame: Measured at baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), and post-treatment (week 7).]

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Positive and Negative Affect

    Time frame: Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).

    The Positive and Negative Affect Scale measures changes in positive and negative affect. Both positive and negative affect sub-scales will be scored (scores range from 10 to 50 for each individual sub-scale), with higher scores on the positive affect scale and lower scores on the negative affect scale indicating a better outcome.

  2. Change in Optimism

    Time frame: Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).

    Life Orientation Test- Revised measures trait optimism. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores reflecting greater optimism. Higher scores will reflect better outcomes of the intervention.

  3. Change in Subjective Happiness

    Time frame: Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4, week 7, and week 10.

    Measure of subjective happiness. Scores range from 4 to 28, with higher scores reflecting greater subjective happiness. Higher scores will reflect better outcomes of the intervention.

  4. Change in Satisfaction With Life

    Time frame: Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).

    Measures subjective well-being. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores reflecting greater satisfaction with life and subjective well-being. Higher scores will reflect better outcomes of the intervention.

  5. Change in Social Support for Exercise

    Time frame: Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).

    Measures perceived social support for regular exercise. Scores range from 13 to 65, with higher scores reflecting greater social support. Will be assessed as a putative mediator.

  6. Change in Physical Activity Enjoyment

    Time frame: Survey will be administered at baseline, week 4 (mid-treatment), week 7 (post-treatment), and week 10 (one-month follow-up).

    Measures enjoyment of physical activity. Scores range from 18 to 126, with higher scores reflecting greater enjoyment. Will be assessed as a putative mediator.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Brown University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Physical Activity Promotion Based on Positive Psychology: Development and Piloting of a Novel Intervention Approach

Acronym: PPPA

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Feb 1, 2019
Registry last updated
Apr 4, 2023

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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