Efficacy of Mobile-based Online Social Network Intervention to Increase Physical Activity among Young African American Women

Significant weight gain and physical inactivity happen during early to midtwenties, with young African American women experiencing the greatest weight gain among all racial and gender groups. Many theories support the view that social networks affect health behaviors. A few studies have tested interventions targeting social networks, but none has tested the effects of such interventions on African American women’s physical activity. This study aimed to test the efficacy and mediation of a mobile app based online social network physical activity intervention for African American women age ۱۸ to ۳۵ years. In a RCT, participants were randomized to the online social network condition or the control condition. All participants received a Fitbit physical activity tracking device and an introductory physical activity promotion session emphasizing the health benefits of physical activity and building skills for daily exercises. Participants in the control condition used the PennFit app to record and monitor their own physical activity progress. Participants in the online social network condition were randomized to ۴-women networks and were able to see and compare their own recorded physical activities with activities of the other three women in their network. In addition, participants in the online network had access to an instant chatting tool to chat with one another. The primary outcome was daily active exercise minutes. Results showed the online network condition did not impact daily active minutes in comparison with the control condition during the ۳۰-day program. All participants increased their self- ۵۸ reported physical activity after the program and the online networks increased engagement with the Fitbit device and the PennFit app in comparison with the control condition.

کلیدواژه ها:

social network ، online social network ، Physical Activity ، Mobile-based