Public Health
Conditions
Keywords
Exercise, Habit, MVPA, M-PAC, Automaticity, Physical Activity
Brief summary
The promotion of physical activity (PA) is paramount to public health, yet interventions in the social cognitive tradition have yielded negligible improvements. Two reasons for these results may be the over reliance on intention as the proximal determinant of behaviour and a lack of consideration of implicit/automatic determinants of PA. The purpose of this study was to apply Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC), a framework centered on PA intention-translation and the gradual building of habit to examine PA change using a two-arm parallel design, randomized controlled trial.
Detailed description
Background: Two of the most prominent limitations of traditional social cognitive models used to understand moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are the gap between intention and behaviour and the lack of consideration of implicit processes in behavioural enactment. Thus, new models are now being examined that attempt to consider these potential limitations. Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) is one such attempt to build a more comprehensive schematic, whereby intention is established via the means of constructs from traditional social cognitive theories (i.e., outcome expectations, perceived capability), but the success of translating this intention to behaviour depends on behavioural-regulation (self-regulatory tactics) (BR), affective judgments (expected pleasure) (AJ) and opportunity (time, access). Over time, M-PAC proposes that habit (stimulus -behaviour bonds) and identity (role-behaviour bonds) develop from performing the behaviour and largely contribute to the maintenance of PA. Aim: The purpose of this study was to conduct at two-arm parallel design, RCT to determine if the M-PAC experimental group would demonstrate greater change in PA and post-intention constructs across time. Methods: Participants (n=94) were inactive new gym members and were randomized into a control or M-PAC experimental group. The experimental group attended a workshop and received a booster phone call follow-up at week four. Measures for both groups included accelerometry and M-PAC at baseline and at week eight.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALM-PAC Group
Participants attended a workshop, completed a worksheet and received a booster phone call follow-up at week four.
Sponsors
University of Victoria
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* New gym member * age 18-65 * Par-Q pass
Exclusion criteria
* age \<18 or 65+ * Par-Q fail
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| GT3X+ Actigraph Activity Monitors (for measuring physical activity) | Baseline to week eight | Participants wear accelerometers for one week at baseline and at week eight to record their physical activity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Report Behavioural Automaticity Index (self report, survey question) | Baseline, week four, week eight | The Self-Report Behavioral Automaticity Index (SRBAI) was used to assess preparatory habit. The SRBAI consists of 4 items on a 5-point Likert scale with 1 being strongly disagree to 5 being strongly agree. The question stem stated ''When I prepare to exercise…'' which was then followed by four items on the scale: ''I do it without having to consciously remember'', ''I do it automatically'', ''I do it without thinking'', and ''I start before I realize I am doing it''. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Cues (self report, survey question) | Baseline, week four, week eight | The following item was used to assess if participants implemented the use of cues: I use cues at home to remind me to exercise (e.g. placing a water bottle on my desk or gym clothes on the bed). The item was rated on a five point Likert scale which ranged from 1=strongly disagree to 5= strongly agree. |
| Temporal Consistency (self report, survey question) | Baseline, week four, week eight | The item was worded How consistently do you exercise at the same time each day? (e.g., exercising every morning at 7 am, or exercising daily after supper). The question was asked on a five point Likert scale which range from 1=not consistent at all to 5=very consistent. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed