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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Oct-Dec;43(9-10):368-377.
doi: 10.1177/0164027520963613. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

A Group-Based Walking Study to Enhance Physical Activity Among Older Adults: The Role of Social Engagement

Yujun Liu  1 , Margie E Lachman  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Group-Based Walking Study to Enhance Physical Activity Among Older Adults: The Role of Social Engagement

Yujun Liu et al. Res Aging. 2021 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore social engagement and social comparisons as mechanisms to increase physical activity among older adults.

Methods: Participants (N = 60, mean age = 65.7) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Participants in the treatment condition used the application to track their daily walking steps and interact via text messages with their group members for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group used the application only to track their own walking steps. Outcome variables included mean weekly steps, exercise self-efficacy, and social engagement.

Results: The results revealed that participants in the experimental condition significantly increased their mean weekly steps and social engagement from the pretest to the posttest whereas the control group did not. These effects were maintained at the 1-month follow up.

Discussion: The study expands our understanding of the motivational role of social engagement and social comparison in increasing PA among older adults.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03803085.

Keywords: older adults; physical activity; social engagement; walking.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest:

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mean weekly steps by condition and occasion. Note. Covariates include age, gender, self-reported health and education. The Error bars: 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean level of social engagement by condition and occasion. Note. Covariates include age, gender, race self-reported health and education. The Error bars: 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Mediation model: The condition effect on percentage change in mean weekly steps is mediated by the hypothesized mechanism, social engagement. Note. The relationship of condition (1=control, 2=treatment) and percentage change in weekly steps averaged over the 4 weeks, mediated by social engagement over 4 weeks. *p < .05. Indirect effect of social engagement: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.61, κ2= 0.03
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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