Using a multiple baseline across participants with a changing criterion, this study explored and evaluated the effects of the individualized contingency management package (goal-setting, education, etc.) with sedentary typical adults while focusing on the mentoring component and the use of the technology of the exercise tracker to increase and sustain physical exercise to a level that increased health-benefiting physical activity. During initial mentoring meeting prior to the start of baseline, each participant was given a Garmin Viovsmart 3® exercise tracker, educated on the basic components of the device, and connected to the dashboard through the Garmin Connect™ app on their smartphones. Once each participant's activity stabilized, participant began intervention with weekly mentoring meetings focused on immediate feedback (social reinforcement), goal-setting and education. Through the Connect™ app, experimenter gave social reinforcement on a VR3 schedule to each participant, and participants were encouraged to participate by commenting to other participants through a private group set up for this study. The results indicate that the individualized contingency management package was effective for three of four participants whom increased their total activity minutes from pre-intervention range 0-104 min of weekly activity to post-intervention range of 269-404 min weekly. The two participants that completed two- and six-week maintenance checks continued to increase their total weekly activity minutes. Each of the participants showed increases in exercise during baseline that might suggest the wearable itself, along with basic instruction may be responsible for the increase in activity levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study to isolate an exercise tracker. The exercise tracker created social validity and meaningful change as it allowed participants to choose preferred exercises and plan their own exercise schedules. This helped facilitate natural generalization to their environment. Future research in behavioral health paired with technology will be far-reaching now that real-time assessments and adjustments can be made remotely. To effectively help an individual increase one's exercise and in so doing, help them increase health, has far-reaching significance, both to the individual as well to the societal reduction of the pervasive healthcare problem.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1538736 |
Date | 08 1900 |
Creators | Adams, Kristen Lea |
Contributors | Cihon, Traci M., Ala'i-Rosales, Shahla, Smith, Richard G. |
Publisher | University of North Texas |
Source Sets | University of North Texas |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
Format | vii, 89 pages, Text |
Rights | Public, Adams, Kristen Lea, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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