Increasing Nonsedentary Behaviors in University Students Using Text Messages: Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Sedentary behavior (SB) is linked to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Increasing breaks from sitting, standing, and light-to-moderate physical activity (PA) can mitigate SB.
• Text message interventions have proven effective for smoking cessation and healthy eating but not yet for reducing SB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a text message intervention in increasing nonsedentary behaviors among university students.
• To determine if the intervention enhances self-efficacy beliefs for reducing SB.
• To investigate if enhanced self-efficacy beliefs predict actual SB reduction.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-two university students were randomized into an intervention (SB-focused texts) or control group.
• Participants received daily text messages encouraging breaks, standing, and light-to-moderate PA.
• Web-based questionnaires assessed SB and self-efficacy at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 6.

Main Results:

• The text intervention group showed moderate increases in break frequency, standing time, and light-to-moderate PA at 6 weeks.
• Self-efficacy beliefs for reducing sitting time significantly improved in the intervention group (P=.032).
• Self-efficacy beliefs were significantly associated with increased breaks, standing, and PA.

Conclusions:

• Text message interventions show promise for increasing nonsedentary behaviors in university students.
• The intervention effectively boosted self-efficacy beliefs, encouraging reduced sitting time and increased PA.
• Self-efficacy beliefs are a significant predictor of actual reductions in sedentary behavior and increases in PA.