Engineering Online and InPerson Social Networks f

Authors: Rovniak Liza S Kong Lan Hovell Melbourne F Ding Ding Sallis James F Ray Chester A Kraschnewski Jennifer L Matthews Stephen A Kiser Elizabeth Chinchilli Vernon M George Daniel R Sciamanna Christopher N

Publish Date: 2016/12/01

Volume: 50, Issue: 6, Pages: 885-897

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Abstract

Liza S Rovniak Lan Kong Melbourne F Hovell Ding Ding James F Sallis Chester A Ray Jennifer L Kraschnewski Stephen A Matthews Elizabeth Kiser Vernon M Chinchilli Daniel R George Christopher N Sciamanna Engineering Online and InPerson Social Networks for Physical Activity A Randomized Trial Annals of Behavioral Medicine Volume 50 Issue 6 December 2016 Pages 885–897 https//doiorg/101007/s1216001698148Physically inactive adults n = 308 age 503 SD = 83 years 383  male 834  overweight/obese were randomized to one of three groups The Promotion group evaluated the effects of weekly emailed tips emphasizing social network interactions for walking eg encouragement informational support the Activity group evaluated the incremental effect of adding an evidencebased online fitness walking intervention to the weekly tips and the Social Networks group evaluated the additional incremental effect of providing access to an online networking site for walking as well as prompting walking/activity across diverse settings The primary outcome was mean change in accelerometermeasured moderatetovigorous physical activity MVPA assessed at 3 and 9 months from baselineAlthough the structure of procedures for targeting social networks varied across intervention groups the functional effect of these procedures on physical activity was similar Future research should evaluate if more powerful reinforcers improve the effects of social network interventions

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