Using token reinforcement to increase walking for adults with intellectual disabilities

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Disability studies
• Rehabilitation science

Background:

• Intellectual disabilities can impact physical activity levels.
• Adult day-training centers provide opportunities for skill development and engagement.
• Behavioral interventions are used to promote adaptive behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of token reinforcement for increasing walking distance.
• To evaluate this intervention for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.
• To implement and analyze an ABAB reversal design.

Main Methods:

• Employed an ABAB reversal design to measure behavioral changes.
• Utilized token reinforcement, where tokens were earned for walking 50-m laps.
• Conducted preference assessments to identify individualized back-up reinforcers.

Main Results:

• Four out of five participants showed a substantial increase in laps walked compared to baseline.
• Token reinforcement proved effective in enhancing physical activity for the majority of participants.
• The intervention demonstrated a clear positive effect on the target behavior.

Conclusions:

• Token reinforcement is an effective strategy for increasing walking distance in adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Individualized reinforcers identified through preference assessments enhance intervention effectiveness.
• This approach can be successfully implemented in adult day-training center settings.