Key result
Active interventions (assistance or counseling) improved physical activity and fitness at 24 months, with changes in behavioral processes significantly mediating this relationship.
Why the study?
Do active behavioral interventions (assistance or counseling) improve physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to physician advice in sedentary adults?
RCT (n=878)
Do active behavioral interventions (assistance or counseling) improve physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to physician advice in sedentary adults?
Behavioral processes of change mediate the improvements in physical activity and fitness seen with active counseling interventions in sedentary adults.
Active interventions merit priority over advice alone in sedentary adults; confirms behavioral processes mediate sustained activity and fitness gains.
BACKGROUND: Improved understanding of the mediators of physical activity (PA) interventions could lead to improvements in theory and programs. PURPOSE: To examine the 24-month mediating effects of psychosocial variables on PA and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) outcomes in 878 initially sedentary adults aged 35-75 participating in the Activity Counseling Trial. METHODS: Participants were assigned to one of three intervention arms: physician advice, assistance, or counseling. MacKinnon's product of coefficients was used to test for longitudinal and contemporaneous mediation. RESULTS: Changes in behavioral processes of change from baseline to 24 months significantly mediated the relationship between the active intervention arms and improvements in PA and CRF from baseline to 24 months in both men and women. None of the other psychosocial variables tested met criteria for mediation. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that behavioral interventions should incorporate methods to encourage participants to use these behavioral strategies as they attempt to become more active.
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Baruth et al. (2010) conducted an RCT in Sedentary adults (n=878). Assistance or counseling vs. Physician advice was evaluated on Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness outcomes. Active interventions (assistance or counseling) improved physical activity and fitness at 24 months, with changes in behavioral processes significantly mediating this relationship.
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