A social media-based physical activity intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Online social networks, such as Facebook™, have extensive reach, and they use technology that could enhance social support, an established determinant of physical activity. This combination of reach and functionality makes online social networks a promising intervention platform for increasing physical activity. PURPOSE: To test the efficacy of a physical activity intervention that combined education, physical activity monitoring, and online social networking to increase social support for physical activity compared to an education-only control. DESIGN: RCT. Students (n=134) were randomized to two groups: education-only controls receiving access to a physical activity-focused website (n=67) and intervention participants receiving access to the same website with physical activity self-monitoring and enrollment in a Facebook group (n=67). Recruitment and data collection occurred in 2010 and 2011; data analyses were performed in 2011. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Female undergraduate students at a large southeastern public university. INTERVENTION: Intervention participants were encouraged through e-mails, website instructions, and moderator communications to solicit and provide social support related to increasing physical activity through a physical activity-themed Facebook group. Participants received access to a dedicated website with educational materials and a physical activity self-monitoring tool. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was perceived social support for physical activity; secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity. RESULTS: Participants experienced increases in social support and physical activity over time but there were no differences in perceived social support or physical activity between groups over time. Facebook participants posted 259 times to the group. Two thirds (66%) of intervention participants completing a post-study survey indicated that they would recommend the program to friends. CONCLUSIONS: Use of an online social networking group plus self-monitoring did not produce greater perceptions of social support or physical activity as compared to education-only controls. Given their promising features and potential reach, efforts to further understand how online social networks can be used in health promotion should be pursued. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at clinicaltrials.govNCT01421758.

The neighborhood recreational environment and physical activity among urban youth: an examination of public and private recreational facilities.

Recreational facility availability has been shown to associate positively with youth physical activity levels. Nonetheless, little is known about additional facility characteristics affecting their use for physical activity as well as differences between private and public facilities. This study examines (1) perceptions and use of public and private recreational facilities and (2) environmental and individual-level correlates of both facility use and physical activity among urban adolescents. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometry, objective measures of facility availability were obtained using Geographical Information Systems data, and facility use and perceptions were measured with a survey (N = 327). Adolescents were more likely to use public than private facilities despite perceiving that private facilities were of higher quality. Adolescents' use of both public and private facilities was associated with perceived (but not objective) availability, perceived quality, and use by friends and family. Public, but not private, facility use was associated with physical activity. This study reveals the importance of public facilities to the physical activity of urban youth.

Physical activity interventions and changes in perceived home and facility environments.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in environmental perceptions over time and associations between changes in perceptions and physical activity among participants in two physical activity interventions. METHODS: Two independent trials were examined. Project STRIDE (STRIDE) (N=239) was conducted from 2000 to 2004 in Rhode Island. Step into Motion (SIM) (N=249) was conducted from 2003 to 2006 in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. Both trials tested various delivery channels for providing individually tailored motivational materials to increase physical activity among sedentary adults. Neither intervention aimed to change perceptions of the environment. At baseline, 6, and 12 months, surveys assessed physical activity and perceived facility and home equipment availability. RESULTS: In both trials, perceived facility availability increased from baseline to 6 months. Significant increases continued from 6 to 12 months in SIM only. Increases were not significantly different by treatment group. Perceived home equipment availability also increased from baseline to 6 months in both trials and from 6 to 12 months in SIM only. In STRIDE, greater increases were observed for intervention compared to control participants. Increased facility and home equipment availability were associated with increased minutes of physical activity in both trials. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived facility and home equipment availability improved during participation in two individual-level physical activity interventions.

A quantitative examination of park characteristics related to park use and physical activity among urban youth.

PURPOSE: Although several studies have identified a positive association between recreational facility availability and physical activity, few have examined facility attributes beyond availability and involved minority adolescents. This study examines how both objective and perceived measures of the facility environment are associated with urban adolescents' use of parks and physical activity. METHODS: Study participants included 329 adolescents from two high schools in Baltimore, Maryland, the majority (69%) of whom was African American. A Web-based survey assessed park use, neighborhood crime, and park availability, quality, and use by friends and family. Geographical Information Systems data were used to develop objective measures of park availability and crime. Physical activity data were obtained from 316 participants using accelerometers. Hypotheses regarding environmental correlates of park use and physical activity were tested using logistic regression models (for park use) and linear regression models (for physical activity). RESULTS: Perceptions of greater park availability, quality, and use by friends were associated with a significantly greater likelihood of an adolescents' park use. Perceptions of more park availability was associated with higher levels of physical activity, although this association was marginally significant. Objective measures of park availability and objective and subjective measures of crime were not associated with either park use or physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to promote park use for physical activity among urban youth should increase awareness of park availability, improve perceptions of park quality, and utilize social networks.

The environment and urban adolescents' use of recreational facilities for physical activity: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Investigate environmental factors influencing the use of recreational facilities for physical activity by urban African-American adolescents. DESIGN: Qualitative in-depth interviews and direct observation. SETTING: Two public high schools and 24 public recreational facilities in Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight African-American adolescents aged 14 to 18 years. METHODS: Data from 48 in-depth interviews and 26 observations were coded using NVivo software and analyzed using the constant comparative method. RESULTS: Facility use is influenced by characteristics of the physical, social, organizational, and economic environments. Adolescents are attracted to low-cost, well-maintained facilities that offer preferred activities and that are within close proximity to home. Adolescents with limited access to facilities use alternative play spaces, like the streets or vacant lots, where they risk injury from falling or being hit by a car. They are drawn to facilities where they find active adolescents, and they avoid those where young people are engaged in drug or gang activity. Concerns about facility safety largely determine use, particularly for adolescent girls. CONCLUSION: Previous research points to the importance of increasing facility availability as a means of promoting physical activity, particularly in minority communities in which availability is disproportionately limited. This study shows that, while availability is important, additional facility characteristics should be considered when using environmental change to promote facility use for physical activity.

Adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity.

OBJECTIVES: To examine African American adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity and identify physical activity promotion strategies. METHODS: Concept mapping with 50 adolescents was used to obtain cluster maps of conceptual domains affecting physical activity. RESULTS: Seven domains were identified, including physical activity settings, social support, negative social influences, parental control, negative environmental influences, transportation and technology issues, and financial issues. Their relative importance to physical activity varied by gender. CONCLUSIONS: This research identified salient environmental characteristics that can be measured in future studies as well as strategies for increasing physical activity in urban youths.