Motivating Activity Through Text Communications - Helping Adults Increase Movement

Part of paid clinical trials in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sponsor
University of Michigan
Study ID
NCT07593677
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Aging
  • Behavior Change
  • Cognitive Ability
  • Physical Inactivity

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
40 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Text Messaging Intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will receive up to 4 motivational text messages per day during a self-selected 12-hour window. These messages focus on two content areas: 1) Move more, and 2) sit less. Delivery of these messages occurs in two phases: 1. Random AIM (month 1): Messages are sent at random times within the participant's window to collect baseline data on their behavioral responses. 2. Precision AIM (months 2 and 3): Messages are sent at optimized times based on person-specific models that are created from the individual's previous responses to text messages from month 1.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effect of different types of text messages on physical activity levels of middle-aged and older adults and to determine whether these messages are effective in adults age 40 and older who are engaging in less than 90 minutes per week of moderate or higher intensity physical activity. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Which types of motivational messages show the greatest effects on changes in daily step counts in a 3-month precision text messaging intervention? * What are the effects of personalized text messages on automatic affective evaluations, habit strength (experienced automaticity), exercise identity, working memory capacity, and processing speed? Participants will: * Wear a Fitbit activity tracker continuously for 3 months and are encouraged to continue wearing it through 6 months. * Wear an activPAL activity monitor on their thigh for 7-day assessment periods at the beginning of the study, at 3 months, and at 6 months. * Complete 3 cognitive assessments ("brain games") per day on their smartphone during the 7-day assessment periods at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. * Be asked to set goals to increase their daily steps over the first 3 months of the study. * Receive up to 4 motivational text messages per day for 3 months to encourage physical activity. * Keep study-related apps (Fitbit app, AIM app, MetricWire app) open in the background on their smartphone. * Complete questionnaires at the beginning of the study, at 3 months, and at 6 months

Key Dates

Start date
Jun 1, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
May 3, 2027
Completion
Aug 2, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
150 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Validated library of text messages
    Participants in this arm will receive motivational text messages that have been written and used in previous studies.
  • Experimental: Newly created text messages
    Participants in this arm will receive motivational text messages that have not been used in previous studies.

Primary Outcome Measure

Daily Step Count [ Time Frame: The activPAL is worn on the thigh for a 7-day assessment period before the intervention begins (baseline), after 3 months of intervention, and then again 3 months after the intervention is complete. The total time frame is 6 months. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of MichiganAnn ArborMichigan48109
David E Conroy, PhD
[email protected]
734-647-8404
Ann M Mehringer
[email protected]
734-647-6050
David E Conroy, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
University of Michigan· Ann Arbor, MI

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