University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A social cognitive approach to influencing adolescent physical activity behavior via social media

Wojcicki, Thomas

Content Files
Thomas_Wojcicki.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/45399

Description

Title
A social cognitive approach to influencing adolescent physical activity behavior via social media
Author(s)
Wojcicki, Thomas
Issue Date
2013-08-22T16:39:02Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
McAuley, Edward
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
McAuley, Edward
Committee Member(s)
  • Hillman, Charles H.
  • Grigsby-Toussaint, Diana S.
  • Huhman, Marian
Department of Study
Kinesiology & Community Health
Discipline
Kinesiology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2013-08-22T16:39:02Z
Keyword(s)
  • Physical Activity
  • Social Media
  • Adolescents
  • Behavior Change
Abstract
The World Wide Web is an effective mode for delivering health behavior programs, yet major limitations remain (e.g., cost of development, time and resource intensive, limited interactivity). Web 2.0, however, has the potential to deliver highly customizable and socially interactive behavioral interventions with fewer constraints. Thus, the evaluation of social media as a means to influence health behaviors is warranted. The purpose of this randomized controlled pilot trial was to examine the efficacy of using an established social networking platform (i.e., Facebook) to deliver an eight-week physical activity intervention to a sample of low-active adolescents (N = 21; M age = 13.48 years). Participants were randomized to either a social cognitive-based condition (i.e., Behavioral group) or an attentional control (i.e., Informational group). Both conditions received access to a study-specific Facebook Group where two daily Wall Posts containing youth-based physical activity information and resources were made by the Group’s administrator. Primary outcomes included physical activity, as assessed by accelerometry and self-report, as well as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, and barriers related to physical activity. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated within groups to determine differential treatment effects on outcome variables. Results revealed that involvement in the Behavioral group generally produced greater effects on primary outcomes compared to the Informational group. Specifically, the Behavioral group experienced large and positive changes in subjectively assessed moderate-vigorous (d = 0.86) and leisure-time (d = 1.12) physical activity, as well as changes in objectively assessed moderate-vigorous (d = 0.85) and total (d = 0.81) physical activity, whereas the Informational group experienced small to moderate changes. These results suggest that a social cognitive-based intervention delivered via social media has the potential to positively influence physical activity levels in low-active adolescents.
Graduation Semester
2013-08
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45399
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2013 Thomas R. Wójcicki

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