Assessing automated self-monitoring and feedback for increasing physical activity

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen M.

Second Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel H.

Third Committee Member

Ahearn, William H.

Abstract

"Approximately three-quarters of American adults do not meet all the national guidelines for physical activity – 22 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day (Blackwell & Clarke, 2018; Piercy et al., 2018). Lack of physical activity has been associated with an increased risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers (McGuire, 2014). Identifying effective interventions for increasing individuals’ physical activity is therefore imperative. Physical activity can be measured with devices that use accelerometers and heart rate sensors. The Apple Watch, for example, utilizes these instruments to measure an individual’s movement and heart rate and subsequently calculates minutes spent exercising (i.e., MVPA), active calories burned, and hours spent standing. Additionally, the Apple Watch has a competition feature that allows users to challenge one another and compete for points awarded for engaging in physical activity. The present study evaluated the impact of the competition feature on participants’ levels of physical activity. The competition alone resulted in increased physical activity levels for two of the participants, while another participant required supplemental incentives to increase activity levels. The evaluated interventions were ineffective for remaining three participants."

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