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Engineering Online and In-Person Social Networks for Physical Activity: A Randomized Trial.
Liza S Rovniak1, Lan Kong2, Melbourne F Hovell3
1Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA. lrovniak@hmc.psu.edu.
Summary
Social network interventions effectively increased physical activity in adults. Different approaches to building social networks for physical activity promotion yielded similar results in increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Social networks significantly influence physical activity levels.
- Optimal strategies for engineering online and in-person social networks to promote physical activity remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incremental contributions of different social network building procedures on objectively measured physical activity outcomes.
- To test the Social Networks for Activity Promotion model through a randomized trial.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 308 physically inactive adults (mean age 50.3 years, 38.3% male, 83.4% overweight/obese).
- Three groups received interventions: weekly tips (Promotion), tips plus online fitness walking (Activity), or tips, online fitness, and a networking site (Social Networks).
- Primary outcome was change in accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at 3 and 9 months.
Main Results:
- Participants increased MVPA by 21.0 min/week at 3 months (p=.005), a change sustained at 9 months.
- No significant differences in MVPA increase were observed between the intervention groups.
- The interventions demonstrated similar functional effects on physical activity despite structural variations.
Conclusions:
- Engineering social networks through various methods yielded comparable improvements in physical activity.
- Future research should explore more potent reinforcers to enhance the efficacy of social network interventions for physical activity.
