Variety and Time in Moderate- to Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity: Do Contextual Factors Play a Role?

Area of Science:

• Exercise Science
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Most adults do not meet physical activity guidelines, highlighting a need for novel strategies to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• Physical activity variety (PAV), defined by the number of different activities performed, is positively associated with time spent in MVPA.
• Contextual factors of MVPA, including social engagement, location, and simultaneous activities, may further enhance PAV beyond mere activity modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if physical activity variety (PAV), encompassing both activity mode and contextual factors, is associated with increased time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• To determine if varying contextual elements of physical activity, beyond just the mode, contributes to greater MVPA.
• To explore novel strategies for increasing MVPA by examining the impact of diverse physical activity engagement.

Main Methods:

• A naturalistic prospective study involving 25 adults who wore activity monitors and maintained paper diaries for 3 weeks.
• Physical activity variety (PAV) was quantified by the number of unique activities (MODE) and unique contextual factors: location (WHERE), companion (WHO), and simultaneous activity (OTHER).
• Statistical analyses examined the association between different types of PAV and MVPA, including the incremental contribution of contextual variety over modality variety.

Main Results:

• Mean variety scores for contextual measures (WHERE, WHO, OTHER) were significantly higher than for modality alone (MODE).
• All forms of variety (MODE, WHERE, WHO, OTHER) were significantly correlated with MVPA engagement (r = .58–.84).
• Varying simultaneous activities (OTHER) significantly increased MVPA time beyond just varying the activity mode (MODE) in week 3 and overall.

Conclusions:

• Varying physical activity modalities alongside contextual elements may be an effective strategy to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• Encouraging adults to diversify their physical activity engagement, such as incorporating music during exercise, could support higher MVPA levels.
• The findings suggest that focusing on the 'how' of physical activity, not just the 'what,' can enhance participation and adherence.