Mobile Supportive Teams for Reinforcing Increased Daily Exercise Study

Summary

The goal of this research is to examine the addition of a digitally delivered social support training approach to an existing digital program designed to promote a physically active lifestyle among self-selected teams of adults who are not meeting physical activity guidelines. The main aims are to:

1. Determine if the social support training intervention promotes significantly greater changes in moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (such as a brisk walk) as measured by an accelerometer (research grade physical activity measurement device) at 3 months compared to the same intervention without social support training among self-selected teams of adults who are not meeting the physical activity guidelines.
2. Determine if the social support training intervention promotes significantly greater changes in social support, motivation, accountability, and autonomy social support (free from excessive control and encouraging one's free will) at 3 months and 12 months compared to the same intervention without social support training.
3. Determine if the social support training intervention promotes significantly greater changes in moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity as measured by an accelerometer at 12 months compared to the same intervention without social support training.
4. Explore whether social support mediates increased and sustained moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity among the entire sample of participants.

Conditions

• Physical Activity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mobile STRIDES app (psychoeducation features)

Twelve theory-based physical activity behavior change lessons/modules during the course of the 3-month intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Mobile STRIDES app (self-regulation features)

Personalized physical activity goals focused on moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity and steps. Physical activity (tracked with a Fitbit wearable smartwatch and synced with the Mobile STRIDES app) tracking component, displaying team and individual progress. Weekly individualized feedback messages crafted by a trained professional for the first month of the intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Mobile STRIDES app (social support training features)

For the experimental group, the Mobile STRIDES app also includes five social support training lessons/modules (during the course of the 3-month intervention) focused on providing guidance related to effective communication when exchanging social support for physical activity within a team. In addition, six team feedback messages will be delivered to respective teams throughout the course of the 3-month intervention to reinforce content taught via the training lessons/modules. A weekly poll will also be administered that complements the social support training lessons, with cumulative results displayed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  collaborator NIH

• University of South Carolina

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Courtney Monroe, PhD · University of South Carolina

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-28

Primary Completion

2027-11-01

Completion

2028-11-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations