Exercise Videos for Lack of Motivation

Overseen By Emilie G Huber

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston University Charles River Campus

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Anorexia, Suicidal ideation, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

82 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise Videos for Lack of Motivation?

Research shows that exercise, including home-based programs, can significantly improve fitness and reduce symptoms of depression and stress. Exercise videos can help people stay active at home, which is beneficial for mental health and overall well-being. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is it safe to use exercise videos for motivation and mental well-being?

Research suggests that exercise, whether alone or combined with educational content, is generally safe for improving mental well-being and reducing stress, especially in certain groups like low-SES women. Additionally, using audiovisual stimuli during exercise can enhance positive feelings and reduce fatigue, indicating that exercise videos are a safe option for motivation and mental health support. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the Exercise for Fitness and Mood video treatment differ from other treatments for lack of motivation?

This treatment is unique because it uses exercise videos specifically designed to boost mood and motivation, combining physical activity with mental well-being benefits. Unlike other treatments that may focus solely on physical fitness or mental health, these videos aim to enhance both simultaneously, potentially increasing adherence to exercise by making it more enjoyable and mood-enhancing. ^{11 12 13 14 15}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to assess the effects of an exercise-related video on exercise motivation and adherence. Specifically, the researchers are studying whether an exercise-for-mood video increase levels of exercise motivation as compared to an exercise-for-fitness video.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Boston University PS101 students aged 18 or older who feel stressed, as indicated by a score of at least 14 on the Perceived Stress Scale. Participants must be able to read English, use a computer or touch screen device, and have access to Zoom.

Inclusion Criteria

* Current PS101 student at Boston University

* A score of 14 or higher on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

* Able to read English to provide informed consent

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Phase 1

Participants consent to the study, complete initial assessments, and watch an 11-minute video on exercise motivation

1 day

1 virtual visit

Phase 2

Participants complete follow-up assessments and are debriefed on the study intent

10-20 days after Phase 1

1 virtual visit

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for exercise motivation and adherence

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Exercise for Fitness video
• Exercise for Mood video

Trial Overview The study compares two types of motivational videos: one encourages exercise to improve mood, while the other promotes exercise for physical fitness. The aim is to see which video better motivates students to stick with an exercise routine.

Participant Groups

Group I: Exercise for Mood video Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Exercise for Mood intervention is an approximately 11-minute video shown to participants which presents a mood-based motivational frame for exercise and physical activity. Video content focuses on discussions related to the immediate mood benefits from exercise, longer-term cognitive and mental health benefits of exercise, effects of positive affect during exercise, and mood-centered strategies for engaging in regular physical activity, including exercising in diverse locations, exercising with friends, and exercising with music or audiobooks.

Group II: Exercise for Fitness video Active Control 1 Intervention

The Exercise for Fitness intervention is an approximately 11-minute video shown to participants which presents a fitness-based motivational frame for exercise and physical activity. Video content focuses on discussions related to the physical health effects of exercise, including cardiovascular health, increased calorie burning, and overall physical wellbeing. The video also includes recommendations for diversity of exercise, balancing cardiovascular and strength-training activities.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston University Charles River Campus

Lead Sponsor

Trials

125

Recruited

14,100+

Findings from Research

Exercise videos can help patients enhance their overall fitness from home, making it a convenient option for many individuals.

It's important for patients to choose exercise videos that are appropriate for their specific fitness levels to ensure safety and effectiveness in their workouts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eight Programs to Consider. Swank, AM.[2016]

In a 15-year inpatient treatment program for depression, patients who participated in physical fitness training three times a week for six to nine weeks showed significant improvements in fitness levels and reductions in depression scores.

More than half of the patients continued to exercise regularly one year after discharge, and they ranked physical fitness training as one of the most valuable components of their treatment, indicating its long-term benefits and safety with no serious complications reported.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Physical training as a therapeutic method in depression]. Martinsen, EW.[2008]

Exercise is an effective treatment option for a wide range of diseases, including psychiatric, neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal disorders, and cancer, as outlined in this comprehensive review.

The review discusses the mechanisms of action of exercise therapy and provides evidence-based recommendations for the optimal type and dosage of exercise for each specific disease, emphasizing its role as a form of medicine.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise as medicine - evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Pedersen, BK., Saltin, B.[2022]

A structured physical exercise program did not significantly improve general health in patients with Stress-related Mental Disorder (SMD) after 6 weeks, as indicated by a negligible effect size of -0.06.

The study, which included 102 patients over a 12-week period, found no significant benefits in secondary outcomes such as days off work or distress scores, suggesting that this intervention may not be effective for recovery from SMD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise therapy for stress-related mental disorder, a randomised controlled trial in primary care. Quartero, AO., Burger, H., Donker, M., et al.[2021]

A 12-week home-based exercise program added to usual medical care did not significantly improve depression outcomes in 200 older adults, with remission rates being similar between the exercise group (63%) and the control group (59%).

The study found no improvement in objective fitness measures among participants in the exercise group, suggesting that the lack of supervision may have hindered compliance and engagement with the exercise program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

ACTIVEDEP: a randomised, controlled trial of a home-based exercise intervention to alleviate depression in middle-aged and older adults. Pfaff, JJ., Alfonso, H., Newton, RU., et al.[2014]

The 'Exercise without Worries' intervention, which combined physical exercise and psycho-education, did not show significant reductions in stress or depressive symptoms among low-SES women over the short or long term, based on a study of 161 participants.

However, women with fewer initial depressive symptoms or lower educational levels experienced some benefits from the exercise programs, suggesting that targeted exercise interventions may be effective for specific groups within disadvantaged populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of combined exercise and psycho-education for low-SES women: short- and long-term outcomes in the reduction of stress and depressive symptoms. van der Waerden, JE., Hoefnagels, C., Hosman, CM., et al.[2018]

In a study with 24 participants, combining music and video during treadmill running significantly improved psychological factors like motivation and positive feelings, especially at different exercise intensities.

The music-and-video condition led to the highest levels of distraction from exertion and the lowest perceived effort, suggesting that using both stimuli can enhance the exercise experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

See hear: psychological effects of music and music-video during treadmill running. Hutchinson, JC., Karageorghis, CI., Jones, L.[2022]

A study involving 204 participants explored how multimedia exercise prompts, tailored to individuals' immediate mental and physical states, can enhance readiness to exercise, showing high self-efficacy and positive perceptions of the prompts.

Participants rated the quality of GIF exercise prompts highly, indicating they were clear and easy to understand, but further refinement is needed before these prompts can be effectively used to encourage actual exercise performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Determining Perceptions to Electronically-Delivered, Personally-Adaptive, Multimedia Exercise Prompts for Middle-Age Adults. Ferrara, PM., Schaltegger, ET., Beaumont, CT., et al.[2020]

Personalized audiovisual stimuli during exercise significantly improved psychological responses, such as reducing feelings of fatigue and enhancing positive emotions, in a study involving 24 adults with obesity.

Participants using sensory stimulation reported greater dissociative thoughts, which helped them focus less on exertion, suggesting that tailored audiovisual content can be beneficial during initial exercise sessions for individuals with obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of audiovisual stimuli on psychological and psychophysiological responses during exercise in adults with obesity. Bigliassi, M., Greca, JPA., Barreto-Silva, V., et al.[2019]

Acute exercise and music listening can help improve cognitive performance in college students experiencing negative feelings after watching a video, suggesting these activities may counteract the cognitive decline caused by such negative affect.

While both interventions were effective for those affected by the video, only acute exercise improved cognitive performance in students who were not affected by the video, indicating its broader benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the Cognitive Effects of Video-Induced Negative Affect in College Students: A Comparative Study between Acute Exercise and Music Listening. Ji, C., Yang, J., Lin, L., et al.[2023]

Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to improve psychological well-being and reduce psychological distress in individuals of varying weights, which may help lower the risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The review included 42 studies with 2187 participants, but it remains unclear which type of exercise—whether aerobic, resistance, or a combination—provides the best psychological benefits due to the limited number of studies on resistance exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychological Responses to Acute Aerobic, Resistance, or Combined Exercise in Healthy and Overweight Individuals: A Systematic Review. Elkington, TJ., Cassar, S., Nelson, AR., et al.[2022]

In a study with 26 participants, exercise significantly improved mood, particularly reducing feelings of depression and confusion after two exercise sessions.

The first exercise session notably decreased depressed mood scores and increased fatigue, while the second session further reduced depressed mood, highlighting exercise as an effective intervention for improving mood.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mood changes following exercise. Lane, AM., Crone-Grant, D., Lane, H.[2004]

A study involving 25 regular exercisers found that engaging in their preferred type of exercise significantly enhanced mood compared to their least-preferred type, indicating that personal preference plays a crucial role in the psychological benefits of exercise.

Both retrospective and prospective assessments showed that while preferred exercise modalities led to greater mood improvements, even exercising in less preferred modalities still resulted in significant mood enhancement, highlighting the overall positive impact of regular exercise on mental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preferred modality influences on exercise-induced mood changes. Lane, AM., Jackson, A., Terry, PC.[2021]

University students enrolled in instructional physical activity courses showed a significant increase in physical activity levels and a notable reduction in negative mood compared to those not enrolled, highlighting the efficacy of such courses in improving mental health.

An increase in physical activity of at least 2 days per week was sufficient to significantly reduce negative mood, indicating that even moderate changes in activity can have a positive impact on mental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Instructional Physical Activity Courses on Overall Physical Activity and Mood in University Students. Annesi, JJ., Porter, KJ., Hill, GM., et al.[2017]

Moderate-intensity anaerobic exercise is particularly effective for improving mood, suggesting that the intensity of physical activity plays a crucial role in its mental health benefits.

A short duration of 10 to 30 minutes of exercise can lead to mood improvements, indicating that even brief physical activity can be beneficial for mental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Special Issue - Therapeutic Benefits of Physical Activity for Mood: A Systematic Review on the Effects of Exercise Intensity, Duration, and Modality. Chan, JSY., Liu, G., Liang, D., et al.[2019]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eight Programs to Consider. [2016]

2. Norway pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Physical training as a therapeutic method in depression]. [2008]

3. Denmark pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise as medicine - evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise therapy for stress-related mental disorder, a randomised controlled trial in primary care. [2021]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

ACTIVEDEP: a randomised, controlled trial of a home-based exercise intervention to alleviate depression in middle-aged and older adults. [2014]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of combined exercise and psycho-education for low-SES women: short- and long-term outcomes in the reduction of stress and depressive symptoms. [2018]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

See hear: psychological effects of music and music-video during treadmill running. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Determining Perceptions to Electronically-Delivered, Personally-Adaptive, Multimedia Exercise Prompts for Middle-Age Adults. [2020]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of audiovisual stimuli on psychological and psychophysiological responses during exercise in adults with obesity. [2019]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the Cognitive Effects of Video-Induced Negative Affect in College Students: A Comparative Study between Acute Exercise and Music Listening. [2023]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychological Responses to Acute Aerobic, Resistance, or Combined Exercise in Healthy and Overweight Individuals: A Systematic Review. [2022]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mood changes following exercise. [2004]

13. Turkey pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preferred modality influences on exercise-induced mood changes. [2021]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Instructional Physical Activity Courses on Overall Physical Activity and Mood in University Students. [2017]

15. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Special Issue - Therapeutic Benefits of Physical Activity for Mood: A Systematic Review on the Effects of Exercise Intensity, Duration, and Modality. [2019]