Two-Player Partnered Exergame for Obesity Prevention: Using Discrepancy in Players' Abilities as a Strategy to Motivate Physical Activity (original) (raw)
Related papers
Annals of Behavioral …, 2012
Background A key barrier to achieving recommended intensity and duration of physical activity is motivation. Purpose We investigated whether a virtually present partner would influence participants' motivation (duration) during aerobic exercise. Method Fifty-eight females (M age 020.54±1.86) were randomly assigned to either a coactive condition (exercising alongside another person, independently), a conjunctive condition (performance determined by whichever partner stops exercising first) where they exercised with a superior partner, or to an individual condition. Participants exercised on a stationary bike at 65 % of heart rate reserve on six separate days. Results Across sessions, conjunctive condition participants exercised significantly longer (M021.89 min, SD0±10.08 min) than those in coactive (M019.77 min, SD0± 9.00 min) and individual (M010.6 min, SD0±5.84 min) conditions (p<0.05). Conclusion Exercising with a virtually present partner can improve performance on an aerobic exercise task across multiple sessions.
Investigating Maintaining Variables of Physical Activity
2021
Engagement in physical activity can assist with the prevention of a variety of serious health complications. Although there is evidence for the many benefits of physical activity, percentages of engagement in physical activity among adults around the world are low. Through the use of an experimental analysis, we investigated what environmental conditions maintain physical engagement with two neurotypical adults. The conditions evaluated included attention, no interaction, escape, and tangible. These conditions were compared to a control condition. Results of this study indicated physical activity engagement was maintained by automatic reinforcement for each participant. Evaluating these controlling variables can assist clinicians in promoting healthy behaviors such as physical activity engagement among adults
This study examined the long-term efficacy of a short exercise-intervention trial (MoVo-LISA) with overweight and obese individuals. Mediators of physical activity, exercise, health, body weight, and body mass index (BMI) were used as outcome variables. A non-randomized trial was conducted including an experimental and a wait-list control group. Both groups were collapsed to analyse long-term effects after approximately 1 year. At the long-term follow-up, 34 participants returned their questionnaires (68%). MoVo-LISA accomplished its primary goal, which consisted in increasing exercise participation. Participants increased their exercise participation from 82 ± 119 min/wk at baseline to 109 ± 121 min/wk at follow-up. This might be attributable to the fact that participants reported more intrinsic motivation, increased action planning and reduced exercise barriers. Additionally, participants reported enhanced health. Initial weight losses and reductions in BMI, however, disappeared at the long-term follow-up. MoVo-LISA seems a useful approach in the therapy of obesity to increase energy expenditure and might produce the best effects if used within nutrition counselling. Zusammenfassung Diese Studie untersuchte die Langzeiteffekte einer kurzen Bewegungsintervention (MoVo-LISA) mit übergewichtigen und adipösen Individuen. Verschiedene Determinanten von körperlichsportlicher Aktivität, die wöchentliche Sportaktivität, die Gesundheitswahrnehmung, das Körpergewicht und der Body Mass Index (BMI) wurden als Indikatoren verwendet. Im Herbst 2007 wurde mit einer Experimental-und einer Warteliste-Kontrollgruppe eine nicht randomisiertes Bewegungsintervention durchgeführt. Um die Langzeiteffekte der Intervention zu evaluieren, wurden die Follow-up-Werte der Experimental-und Warteliste-Kontrollgruppe zusammengefasst und ausgewertet. Beim Follow-up schickten insgesamt 34 Teilnehmende ihre Fragebögen zurück (68% Rücklauf). Die Studienteilnehmer erhöhten die körperlich-sportliche Aktivität von 82 ± 119 min/Woche bei t1 auf 109 ± 121 min/Woche beim Follow-up. Das Hauptziel von MoVo-LISA, eine Steigerung der körperlich-sportlichen Aktivität, konnte mit der Kurzintervention erreicht werden. Die Zunahme des Bewegungsumfangs kann mit einer gesteigerten intrinsischen Motivation, vermehrten Implementierungsintentionen und einer reduzierten Wahrnehmung von Barrieren erklärt werden. Die Teilnehmenden gaben zudem beim Follow-up ein verbessertes Gesundheitsbefinden an. Anfängliche Gewichtsverluste sowie die Verringerung des BMI konnten jedoch nicht aufrechterhalten werden. MoVo-LISA scheint ein brauchbarer Ansatz in der Therapie von Übergewicht und Adipositas zu sein, um den durch körperlich-sportliche Aktivität bedingten Energieverbrauch zu erhöhen. Es ist allerdings anzunehmen, dass das Programm kombiniert mit einer Ernährungsberatung die besten Effekte erzielt.
Group dynamics motivation to increase exercise intensity with a virtual partner
Journal of Sport and Health Science, 2019
Background: The effect of the K€ ohler group dynamics paradigm (i.e., working together with a more capable partner where one's performance is indispensable to the team outcome) has been shown to increase motivation to exercise longer at a strength task in partnered exercise video games (exergames) using a software-generated partner (SGP). However, the effect on exercise intensity with an SGP has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the motivation to maintain or increase exercise intensity among healthy, physically active middle-aged adults using an SGP in an aerobic exergame. Methods: Participants (n = 85, mean age = 44.9 years) exercised with an SGP in a 6-day cycle ergometer protocol, randomly assigned to either (a) no partner control, (b) superior SGP who was not a teammate, or (c) superior SGP as a teammate (team score was dependent on the inferior member). The protocol alternated between 30-min continuous and 4-min interval high-intensity session days, during which participants could change cycle power output (watts) from target intensity to alter distance and speed. Results: Mean change in watts from a targeted intensity (75% and 90% maximum heart rate) was the primary dependent variable reflecting motivational effort. Increases in performance over baseline were demonstrated without significant differences between conditions. Self-efficacy and enjoyment were significantly related to effort in the more intense interval sessions. Conclusion: Under these conditions, no K€ ohler effect was observed. Exercise performance during the higher-intensity interval format is more closely related to enjoyment and self-efficacy beliefs compared to the continuous sessions.
The iReAct study – A biopsychosocial analysis of the individual response to physical activity
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2020
Background: Physical activity is a substantial promoter for health and well-being. Yet, while an increasing number of studies shows that the responsiveness to physical activity is highly individual, most studies focus this issue from only one perspective and neglect other contributing aspects. In reference to a biopsychosocial framework, the goal of our study is to examine how physically inactive individuals respond to two distinct standardized endurance trainings on various levels. Based on an assessment of activity-and health-related biographical experiences across the life course, our mixed-method study analyzes the responsiveness to physical activity in the form of a transdisciplinary approach, considering physiological, epigenetic, motivational, affective, and body image-related aspects. Methods: Participants are randomly assigned to two different training programs (High Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate Intensity Continuous Training) for six weeks. After this first training period, participants switch training modes according to a two-period sequential-training-intervention (STI) design and train for another six weeks. In order to analyse baseline characteristics as well as acute and adaptive biopsychosocial responses, three extensive mixed-methods diagnostic blocks take place at the beginning (t 0) of the study and after the first (t 1) and the second (t 2) training period resulting in a net follow-up time of 15 weeks. The study is divided into five modules in order to cover a wide array of perspectives. Discussion: The study's transdisciplinary mixed-method design allows to interlace a multitude of subjective and objective data and therefore to draw an integrated picture of the biopsychosocial efficacy of two distinct physical activity programs. The results of our study can be expected to contribute to the development and design of individualised training programs for the promotion of physical activity. Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered in the German Clinical Trials Register on 12 June 2019 (DRKS00017446).
The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and Practice
Sport Psychologist, 2004
continues to weave together theory, research, application, and interventions to provide readers with a solid foundation in exercise psychology. In this comprehensive, accessible, book, the authors apply prominent theories and models to actual situations encountered professionally. Compelling graphs, models, other visuals, and effective pedagogical aids further enhance the material. Discussions throughout on mobile devices, apps, social media, and high-tech point-of-decision and how these technologies can be used for tracking and measuring physical activity and for offering social support. Updated references, glossary, and graphics. Special Features of the Book Reader-friendly price Outstanding author team of active researchers with diverse areas of expertise End-of-chapter review questions and learning activities to enhance understanding Connections between theory and application throughout Focus boxes, with additional learning activities, highlighting research on physical activity and populations with chronic disease and disability Standardized questionnaires, including some of the most frequently used measures in exercise psychology research Download The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and ...pdf
Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 2013
Prior research has documented the Köhler motivation gain effect-working with a more capable partner at a task that makes one's performance indispensible for the group can boost task motivation. Recent research has shown that the Köhler effect can boost one's persistence exercising in groups, but that always being the group's "weak link" can eventually undermine these motivation gains. An experiment is reported which contrasts having a partner that is more capable on all/both exercise tasks with one that is more capable on the focal task, but inferior on the second task. The Köhler effect on the focal task was replicated and unmoderated by the uniformity of the partner's exercise superiority. Implications for further research and application are discussed. "…been down so long" Page 3 "…been down so long…": Perpetual vs. Intermittent Inferiority and the Köhler Group Motivation Gain in Exercise Groups Most people recognize the value of exercise and many try to initiate an exercise program. However, it is notoriously hard to persist in keeping such good resolutions-e.g., research has typically reported about a 50% drop out rate within the first 6 months of initiating an exercise program (Dishman, 1994). Thus, a key question in any attempt to improve fitness is, "how can motivation to exercise be enhanced?" The present paper reports research that combines two promising approaches to answering this question-1) the use of exercise video games, or 'exergames' (e.g., Wii Fit, PlayStation 2 EyeToy: Kinetic) and 2) the application of social psychological principles that have been shown to enhance member motivation in work groups. Clearly, video games have captured the attention of many people, particularly young people. For example, Gentile (2009) reports that 8-18 year olds in the U.S. spend about 12-14 hours per week, on average, playing video games. Such high levels of game play has raised a number of concerns (e.g., about the effects of graphic and violent video games, e.g., Anderson et al., 2010). One such concern is that video game play is typically very sedentary. But if engaging video games could be designed to require vigourous activity, such play could make a significant contribution to fitness. There are a number of obvious advantages to such games over alternative means of exercising-they can be played in the home at one's convenience, help avoid social physique anxiety, and provide timely performance feedback, etc. In the last decade, a number of such games have been designed (Staiano & Calvert, 2011). Although initial research efforts into the effectiveness of such games is encouraging (e.g., Maddison et al., 2007; Porcari, Schmidt, & Foster, 2008), as of yet there is rather little research exploring whether and when such games can succeed in boosting motivation to exercise. Moreover, practically none of the extant exergames incorporate social psychological principles which have been shown to boost motivation in group task settings.