Identifying Optimal Moments for Delivering Digital Prompts to Reduce Prolonged Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults: An...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Optimal digital prompts for reducing sedentary behavior (SB) target moments of vulnerability and opportunity.
• This study investigates the contextual factors influencing vulnerability and opportunity for behavior change in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the vulnerability and opportunity for older adults to reduce prolonged sedentary behavior.
• To identify specific contexts and states associated with increased sedentary behavior and willingness to interrupt it.

Main Methods:

• A 14-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study with 105 older adults.
• Utilized Fitbit, ActivPAL, and smartphone-based EMA to collect data on activity, context, feelings, and willingness to interrupt SB.
• Employed descriptive statistics for vulnerability and linear mixed models for opportunity analysis.

Main Results:

• Older adults exhibited highest vulnerability to prolonged SB during TV viewing (36.3%) and digital device use (14.7%).
• Prolonged SB frequently occurred at home, in the evening, and when experiencing fatigue (52.2%) or mild pain (21.1%).
• Willingness to interrupt SB varied by activity, context, pain, and fatigue, but not time of day; higher willingness observed during mentally active SB and when indoors with close relations.

Conclusions:

• Contextual factors significantly impact older adults' vulnerability to and willingness to interrupt prolonged SB.
• Findings can inform the design of just-in-time adaptive interventions for reducing sedentary behavior in older populations.
• Strategically timed prompts, based on identified contextual triggers, can enhance intervention effectiveness.