JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The benefits of physical activity (PA) are well known, but many adults are inactive. While fitness technology can track and encourage PA increases, few smartphone applications (apps) are based on behavior change theories. Apps that do include behavior change theories tend to be costly, and often do not include strategies to help those who do are unsure of how to increase their PA.

Objective:

The current pilot study tested the efficacy of a new app, StepMATE (Mobile App for Tracking Exercise) for increasing daily walking, and examined the daily relationships between walking, mood, and energy levels in a sample of inactive middle aged and older adults.

Methods:

Participants were 60 adults aged 50 and older (Mage=64.55, SD=6.99). They were randomly assigned to receive either given a basic, pedometer-like version of the app, or a version with supports to help determine where, when, and with whom to walk. Upon downloading the app, step data from the week prior were automatically recorded. Participants in both groups were asked to set a daily walking goal, which they could change at any point during the intervention. They were asked to use the app as much as possible over the next 4 weeks. Twice per day, popup notifications assessed mood and energy levels.

Results:

Multilevel modeling revealed both groups took significantly more steps during the 4-week study than the week before downloading the app, (γ = 286.05, p < .001). During the 4-week study, participants in both groups averaged 5,406 steps per day, compared to 3,694 steps per day in the baseline week. Contrary to predictions, there were no differences in step increases between the two conditions. Initial step increases were maintained but did not increase further over the study. Cognitive performance significantly improved from -0.02 in the pre-test to 0.16 in the post-test, (γ =0.21, p = .005). Days in which participants took more steps than average, they reported better mood and higher energy levels on the same day, and better mood on the subsequent day. Relationships between walking, mood, and energy were significant for women, but not men.

Conclusions:

The additional app features were not more beneficial than the basic version for increasing daily walking. Both groups increased their steps to a similar extent, suggesting that setting daily walking goals was sufficient for an initial increase and maintenance of steps. Across groups, walking had benefits for positive mood and energy level on the same day, particularly for women. The effects of steps on mood also lasted into the next day. Further investigation should identify other motivating factors that could lead to greater increases in PA. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03124537