Mobile Apps for Increasing Physical Activity

Overseen By Jennifer Krafft, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mississippi State University

Must not be taking: Hypertension medications

Disqualifiers: Substance use disorder, Terminal illness, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 4 weeks

70 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This randomized control trial aims to investigate whether writing about personal values helps enhance motivation to engage in physical activity, relative to general self-reflective writing. This study will help to (1) assess whether values clarification leads to increased motivation to engage in physical activity, greater stability in motivation, and improvements in engagement in physical activity and valued action, relative to engaging in self-reflection, (2) determine if the impact of values clarification on these outcomes vary depending on context (e.g., positive/negative affect, psychological inflexibility, stressful events), (3) explore whether values clarification procedures that employ distinct relational frames (hierarchical, conditional, distinction, and deictic) differentially impact motivation to engage in physical activity, and daily engagement in physical activity, and (4) explore whether the impact of values clarification vary depending on baseline self-compassion and/or intrinsic/extrinsic motivation.

Research Team

Jennifer Krafft, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mississippi State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals interested in increasing their physical activity. Participants should be willing to use mobile apps designed to motivate exercise through personal values clarification or self-reflection. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants would need a smartphone and the ability to engage in physical activities.

Inclusion Criteria

Have reliable internet access

Living in the United States

Own a device that can receive text messages

Exclusion Criteria

Not having reliable internet access

Already completing 150 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity most weeks

Report any condition that would preclude adherence to the intervention protocol (e.g. current or past substance use disorder or psychiatric hospitalization, terminal illness diagnosis)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment

Participants use a mobile app for values clarification or self-reflection for 28 days

4 weeks

Daily app usage

Post-treatment

Participants complete a post-treatment survey to assess outcomes

1 week

1 survey (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity and motivation

4 weeks

1 survey (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Self-Reflection Mobile Application
• Values Clarification Mobile Application

Trial Overview The study is testing two mobile app interventions: one that helps users clarify their personal values related to physical activity, and another that prompts general self-reflection. The goal is to see if focusing on personal values can boost motivation more effectively than just thinking about oneself generally.

Participant Groups

Group I: Values Clarification Condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will respond to values clarification writing prompts related to physical exercise once a day over 28 days in addition to a short daily survey. In each session, one writing prompt will be randomly presented from a pool of four categories: hierarchical, conditional, distinction, and perspective-taking. The survey inquires about time spent doing light, moderate, and vigorous exercise the day before, in addition to time spent watching television, using the computer, and sitting. It also includes the 24 item Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory adapted for ecological momentary assessment and questions asking participants to rate the extent to which they currently feel 8 emotions, their current motivation to exercise, and their stress yesterday. The writing prompt and survey are estimated to take 10 minutes to complete daily. Participants will have the option to review additional educational content about values and their previous written responses.

Group II: Self-Reflection Condition Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants in this condition will be asked to respond to one randomly selected self-reflection prompt about physical activity from a library of 28 prompts once a day over 28 days \[4 weeks\]. As with the experimental condition, participants will also complete the same daily survey which includes questions about how many minutes they spent doing light, moderate, and vigorous exercise the day before, in addition to how many hours they spent watching television, using the computer, and sitting. The survey also contains the 24 item Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory adapted for ecological momentary assessment and questions asking participants to rate the extent to which they are currently feeling 8 emotions, their current motivation to exercise, and their stress the day before. This is estimated to take 10 minutes to complete daily. Participants will have the option to review additional educational content about values clarification and their previous written responses.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mississippi State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

8

Recruited

3,300+

Association for contextual behavioral science

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

140+