Developing Real Incentives and Volition for Exercise

Although engaging in regular physical activity (PA) plays a critical role in reducing one's
risk for numerous health problems, 4 out of 5 U.S. adults fail to meet national PA
guidelines, with underserved groups (low income and racial/ethnic minority groups) having the
highest rates of physical inactivity. Developing innovative strategies to motivate
underserved groups to initiate PA has become an increasing national priority, but many
implementation challenges remain, as evidenced by relatively low levels of program engagement
among underserved groups. Increasingly, researchers have begun to show that rather than using
a "one-size-fits all" intervention approach, developing interventions that target specific
individual differences in cultural or social-cognitive factors is a highly effective approach
for increasing engagement among underserved groups. Broadening this approach in a novel
domain, the proposed research tests whether developing interventions that target differences
in autonomous (internally-driven) vs. controlled (externally-driven) motivation is a feasible
and useful approach for engaging African American women in PA initiation. The proposed study
is a randomized pilot study comparing two intervention programs: a Challenge-focused program
targeted toward high autonomous motivation and a Rewards-focused program targeted toward high
controlled motivation. The Challenge-focused program targets greater PA enjoyment, PA
valuation, and relatedness, and the Rewards-focused program targets greater PA competence and
structured social support for PA. It is hypothesized that baseline motivation (measured with
the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise questionnaire) will moderate treatment effects.
Specifically, participants with relatively higher autonomous motivation will demonstrate
greater improvements from baseline to post- in total physical activity when they receive the
"matched" intervention (Challenge-Focused program) relative to the non-matched intervention
(Rewards-Focused Program). Additionally, participants with relatively higher controlled
motivation will demonstrate greater improvements from baseline to post- in total physical
activity when they receive the "matched" intervention (Rewards-Focused program) relative to
the non-matched intervention (Challenge-Focused Program). The results of this study will
provide support of the feasibility and proof-of-concept for conducting a large scale
randomized controlled trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Self-identify as African American

- Female

- At least 21 years old

- Engage in < 150 min. of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week for the last 3
months

Exclusion Criteria:

- Having a condition that would limit participation in PA (assessed with the Physical
Activity Readiness Questionnaire)

- Uncontrolled blood pressure (> 180/120 mm Hg).