The present study
personality traits
SECONDARY
The goal of this study was to test the effects of a 7-week digital self-control intervention to increase physical activity using a two-arm randomized controlled trial. The self-control treatment group showed greater increases in self-reported physical activity (MET’s) than the comparison group. Both groups significantly increased their daily steps and self-control. Participants with higher initial levels of conscientiousness were better able to increase their daily steps during the intervention and participants who increased more in self-control showed greater increases in MET’s. These moderation effects were more pronounced in the self-control treatment group as compared to the comparison group. This study shows that the effects of physical activity interventions may depend on personality characteristics and outcomes may be improved when individual differences are considered and targeted.An active lifestyle has broad benefits for cognitive, physical, and psychological health (Self-control refers to the ability to suppress or control impulsive actions, emotions, and desires in favor of desired alternatives and enables people to reach long-term goals (such as sticking to regular exercise) despite the presence of short-term desires and distractions (The modification of personality facets such as self-control through interventions to promote healthy aging is a research priority of the US National Institute of Aging (The overall goal of this study was to explore the effects of a digital self-control coaching intervention to increase physical activity among sedentary adults who are at risk for poor health. To measure physical activity, we focused on the richness and complementary information that self-report and objective measurements can offer (The specific aims of the study were threefold. The first aim was to test the effects of a digital self-control intervention to increase physical activity by comparing the two conditions (i.e. treatment group vs comparison group). It was expected that those who received the self-control intervention, would show greater increases in physical activity compared to people in the comparison group, who did not receive the self-control intervention. As part of the first study aim, it was also expected that the effects in the treatment group would last longer compared to the changes in the comparison group. Also, based on prior research, which found that higher conscientiousness was associated with greater increases in daily steps during an intervention (The second aim was to compare changes in self-control between the treatment group and the comparison group. We expected that participants in the self-control treatment group would show greater increases in self-control compared to participants in the comparison group and that self-control changes in the treatment group would last longer compared to changes in the comparison group.The third aim was to examine whether participants who increased more in self-control also showed greater increases in their physical activity and if this effect was moderated by their condition. We expected that those who showed greater increases in self-control would also show greater increases in physical activity.In addition, we explored whether participants changed in the secondary outcome measures (Big Five personality traits, exercise self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, sense of control, and cognitive performance) across time and whether these changes differed between conditions.