An Examination of the Efficacy of a Self-Determination Theory and Motivational Interviewing Exercise Intervention

Decreasing Disparities in Physical Activity: An Intervention Based on Self-Determination Theory and Motivational Interviewing

The current study involves conducting an intervention based on self-determination theory (SDT) and motivational interviewing (MI) to promote physical activity in a racially-diverse sample. It is expected that this intervention will successfully increase physical activity in participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Exercise Promotion
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: MI and SDT Exercise Group; Behavioral: Non-MI and SDT Exercise Group

Detailed Description

The mental and physical benefits of physical activity are well-established. However, there is a racial disparity in exercise, such that minorities are much less likely to engage in physical activity than are white individuals. Research suggests that a lack of motivation may be an important barrier to physical activity for racial minorities. Therefore, interventions which increase participants' motivation may be especially useful in promoting physical activity within these groups. A previous meta-analysis has found that physical activity interventions based on self-determination theory (SDT) and motivational interviewing (MI) are especially effective in increasing white individuals' physical activity (Miller & Gramzow, under review). However, it remains unclear the extent to which these results apply to minority populations. The current study involves conducting an intervention based on SDT and MI to promote physical activity in a racially-diverse sample. It is expected that this intervention will successfully increase physical activity in participants. Specifically, it is expected that there will be a greater relative increase in physical activity in minority individuals than white individuals within the intervention group because it is expected that their level of activity will be lower at baseline.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 57
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Guilderland, New York, United States, 12084
      • Lauren S. Miller

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• participants were were willing to attend an exercise class once a week for 12 weeks, were willing to complete questionnaires at baseline and 12 weeks, allowed the intervention staff to monitor their attendance at the YMCA for 6 months post intervention, and allowed the exercise instructor to create an audio recording of all of the intervention sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• not have any illnesses that would prevent them from exercising once a week, not be pregnant or planning to get pregnant within the next 3 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: MI and SDT Exercise Group; Intervention Condition: Participated in 12 weekly meetings led by MI- and SDT-trained exercise instructor.	Behavioral: MI and SDT Exercise Group; The intervention group will participate in a group exercise class that will be held once a week for an hour. This class will be taught by an instructor trained in MI and SDT. This individual will lead group discussions and will have the participants exercise together.
Sham Comparator: Non-MI and SDT Exercise Group; Control Condition: Participated in 12 weekly meetings led by an exercise instructor who was not trained in MI and SDT.	Behavioral: Non-MI and SDT Exercise Group; This group will participate in a group exercise class that will be held once a week for an hour. This class will be taught by an instructor who was not trained in MI and SDT. This individual will lead a regular exercise class.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
International Physical Activity Questionnaire	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Psychological General Well-Being Index	12 weeks
Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale	12 weeks
Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire	12 weeks
Physical Activity Adherence	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Syracuse University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lauren S Miller, M.S., Syracuse University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Miller LS, Gramzow RH. A self-determination theory and motivational interviewing intervention to decrease racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity: rationale and design. BMC Public Health. 2016 Aug 11;16(1):768. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3413-2.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 24, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): September 26, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 19, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2015
• Last Verified: May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: physical activity; exercise; motivational interviewing; self-determination theory
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4636