JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Data attrition has been a common problem in longitudinal lifestyle interventions. The contributors of attrition in technology-supported physical activity interventions have not been thoroughly studied.

Objective:

The present study examined personality characteristics’ and psychological wellbeing indicators’ role in data attrition within a technology-supported, longitudinal intervention study among overweight adults.

Methods:

Participants (N = 89) were adults from the Motivation Makes the Move! (MoMaMo!) intervention study. Data attrition was studied after a 3-month follow-up. Participants’ personality was studied using the Short Five self-report questionnaire (S5). Psychological wellbeing indicators were assessed with Rand 36-item health survey, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the risk for discontinuing in the study. The analyses were adjusted for sex, age, study group and educational status.

Results:

In the 3-month follow-up, 65 participants (73% of the initial sample) continued in the study. Participants’ personality characteristics or indicators of psychological wellbeing were not associated with the risk for dropping out from the study (all p-values >0.05). The results remained the same after covariate controls.

Conclusions:

Participant attrition was not attributable to personality characteristics or psychological wellbeing in the MoMaMo! study conducted in overweight adults. As attrition remains a challenge within longitudinal, technology-supported lifestyle interventions, attention should be paid to the motivation related factors beyond personality and psychological wellbeing. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov (protocol record TYH2016215, NCT02686502)