Social and Physical Context Moderates Older Adults’ Affective Responses to Sedentary Behavior: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Author(s):  
Derek J Hevel ◽  
Eric S Drollette ◽  
Genevieve F Dunton ◽  
Jaclyn P Maher

Abstract Objectives Older adults engage in excessive sedentary behaviors which hold significant health implications. Examining affect responses during sedentary behavior is not well understood despite the wealth of evidence linking affect and motivation. Contextual influences (i.e., social and physical) likely influence affective responses during sedentary behavior and therefore warrant further investigation. Method Older adults (n = 103, Mage = 72, range: 60–98) participated in a 10-day study where they received 6 randomly timed, smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) prompts/day. Participants reported their affect, current behavior, and context at each EMA prompt. Participants also wore an activPAL accelerometer to measure their sedentary behavior duration. Separate multilevel models examined the extent to which the context influences affective responses during self-report sedentary (vs nonsedentary) behaviors. Results The social context moderated the association between sedentary behavior and negative affect. The physical context moderated the association between sedentary behavior and positive affect. Discussion Interventions should consider the context of behaviors when designing interventions to reduce sedentary behavior as some contextual factors may attenuate, while other contexts may exacerbate, associations between activity-related behaviors and indicators of well-being.

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 588-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Liao ◽  
Stephen Intille ◽  
Jennifer Wolch ◽  
Mary Ann Pentz ◽  
Genevieve Fridlund Dunton

Background:Research on children’s sedentary behavior has relied on recall-based self-report or accelerometer methods, which do not assess the context of such behavior.Purpose:This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to determine where and with whom children’s sedentary behavior occurs during their nonschool time.Methods:Children (N = 120) ages 9–13 years (51% male, 33% Hispanic) wore mobile phones that prompted surveys (20 total) for 4 days. Surveys measured current activity (eg, exercise, watching TV), physical location (eg, home, outdoors), and social company (eg, family, friends).Results:Children engaged in a greater percentage of leisure-oriented (eg, watching TV) than productive (eg, reading, doing homework) sedentary behavior (70% vs 30%, respectively). Most of children’s sedentary activity occurred at home (85%). Children’s sedentary activity took place most often with family members (58%). Differences in physical context of sedentary behavior were found for older vs. younger children (P < .05). Type of sedentary behavior differed by gender, racial/ethnic group, and social context (P < .05).Conclusion:Children may prefer or have greater opportunities to be sedentary in some contexts than others. Research demonstrates the potential for using EMA to capture real-time information about children’s sedentary behavior during their nonschool time.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catiana Leila Possamai Romanzini ◽  
Marcelo Romanzini ◽  
Mariana Biagi Batista ◽  
Cynthia Correa Lopes Barbosa ◽  
Gabriela Blasquez Shigaki ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure sedentary behavior (SB) in children, adolescents, and adults can increase the understanding of the role of the context of SB in health outcomes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to systematically review literature to describe EMA methodology used in studies on SB in youth and adults, verify how many studies adhere to the Methods aspect of the Checklist for Reporting EMA Studies (CREMAS), and detail measures used to assess SB and this associated context. METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and SPORTDiscus databases, covering the entire period of existence of the databases until January 2018. RESULTS This review presented information about the characteristics and methodology used in 21 articles that utilized EMA to measure SB in youth and adults. There were more studies conducted among youth compared with adults, and studies of youth included more waves and more participants (n=696) than studies with adults (n=97). Most studies (85.7%) adhered to the Methods aspect of the CREMAS. The main criteria used to measure SB in EMA were self-report (81%) with only 19% measuring SB using objective methods (eg, accelerometer). The main equipment to collect objective SB was the ActiGraph, and the cutoff point to define SB was <100 counts/min. Studies most commonly used a 15-min window to compare EMA and accelerometer data. CONCLUSIONS The majority of studies in this review met minimum CREMAS criteria for studies conducted with EMA. Most studies measured SB with EMA self-report (n=17; 81.0%), and a few studies also used objective methods (n=4; 19%). The standardization of the 15-min window criteria to compare EMA and accelerometer data would lead to a comparison between these and new studies. New studies using EMA with mobile phones should be conducted as they can be considered an attractive method for capturing information about the specific context of SB activities of young people and adults in real time or very close to it.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Kennedy-Malone ◽  
Derek J Hevel ◽  
Kourtney B Sappenfield ◽  
Heidi Scheer ◽  
Christine Zecca ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Objectives Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods can provide novel insights into modeling and predicting activity-related behaviors, yet many racial and ethnic minority groups report barriers to participating in mobile health research. We aim to (1) report on strategies used to successfully recruit and retain minority older adults in a smartphone-based physical activity and sedentary behavior EMA study and (2) report on participants’ perceptions of study acceptability. Research Design and Methods Researchers partnered with trusted individuals and community organizations serving older adults to facilitate recruitment for an 8-day EMA study of minority older adults’ physical activity and sedentary behavior. Additional strategies such as having experienced, culturally competent team members and available technical support were employed to further recruitment and retention efforts. A post study questionnaire assessed participants’ perceptions of study acceptability. Results In total, 123 minority older adults were recruited; 102 met inclusion criteria, 91 completed the study, and 89 completed the post-study questionnaire. The sample consisted of predominantly low-income African American women with an average age of 70 years. Responses to open-ended questions revealed the most enjoyable aspects of study participation were the ability to learn more about themselves, contribute to science and/or their community, engage in a new activity, and receive financial compensation. Participants reported the least enjoyable aspects of the study included the frequency of EMA questionnaires, apprehension of missing EMA questionnaires, carrying the smartphone, and difficulty wearing the accelerometer. Most participants (97%) expressed interest in being contacted for future studies. Discussion and Implications Low-income, older African Americans reported positive perceptions of a smartphone-based EMA study of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Findings suggest that applying demonstrated strategies to engage this population in technology-based health research can enhance recruitment and retention efforts; however, it is unclear which strategies are most effective in reducing participation barriers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 193-194
Author(s):  
Laurie Kennedy-Malone ◽  
Derek Hevel ◽  
Kourtney Sappenfield ◽  
Heidi Scheer ◽  
Christine Zecca ◽  
...  

Abstract Minority older adults engage in excessive levels of sedentary behavior (i.e., sitting). Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods can provide novel insights into the modeling and prediction of activity-related behaviors. Yet, minority groups report barriers to participating in mobile health research (e.g., distrust, lack of interest, underrepresentation in research). This abstract reports on strategies used to recruit minority older adults and acceptability of an 8-day smartphone-based sedentary behavior EMA study in this population. Researchers partnered with existing community organizations servicing the target population (i.e., independent living communities, congregate meals sites, and churches) and trusted individuals within these organizations to facilitate introduction of the research team/study. In total, 123 older minority adults were recruited, 102 met inclusion criteria and 91 completed the study. During the study, participants answered 6 electronic EMA questionnaires/day and wore an ActivPAL activity monitor continuously. Participants received one-on-one training on these procedures and received check-in calls to monitor progress. Open-ended questions administered at the end of the study revealed the most enjoyable aspects of the study were the ability to learn more about themselves, contributing to science and/or their community, engaging in a new activity followed by receiving financial compensation and having someone checking on their progress. Least enjoyable aspects of the study included frequency of EMA questionnaires, apprehension of missing EMA questionnaires, carrying the smartphone, and difficulty wearing the activity monitor. Almost all participants (95%) expressed interest being contacted for future studies. Implications for future technology-based research regarding minority older adults’ activity-related behaviors will be discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 816-816
Author(s):  
Huiying Liu ◽  
Vivian Lou

Abstract Previous researches have examined the influences of satisfaction with social relations on affective well-being on a long time-frame among older adults. Using the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) method, we examined within-person changes in social contact satisfaction in relation to momentary affect on short time-scales in 78 community-dwelling older Chinese. Each participant provided up to 7 EMA surveys per day during a one-week period and reported his/her satisfaction, positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Multilevel modelling was used for testing the within-person concurrent and time-lagged relations of social interactions and affect. Higher satisfaction was concurrently associated with more PA and less NA. The satisfaction of prior contact was predictive of greater low-arousal PA during the next contact. Prior NA was predictive of lower satisfaction at the next contact. Such dynamic interplays of social and affective experiences should be considered to support the maintenance of affective well-beings in older Chinese.


Author(s):  
Noelle Fields ◽  
Courtney Cronley ◽  
Stephen P. Mattingly ◽  
Erin R. Murphy ◽  
Vivian J. Miller

This study investigates transportation disadvantage (TD) and its impact on social exclusion among lower-income older adults ( n = 10) through the use of a custom-designed daily transportation diary app, MyAmble. The study utilized an ecological momentary assessment design using the Travel Buddy, which was the qualitative feature of MyAmble. The Travel Buddy allowed study participants to share their transportation experiences as they relate to the following domains of social exclusion: quality of life, participation, and resources. Conventional content analysis revealed five primary themes related to TD and social exclusion: constrained autononmy and flexibility, safety concerns, dimished emotional well-being, barriers to community engagement, and burdensome. The Travel Buddy produced qualitative data that contextualize lost opportunities and how characteristics of economic justice exacerbate the risk of TD, as well as how individuals manage within these intersections of disadvantage. Study findings provide insight for expanded conversations about how to transform transportation planning from mobility to equity. Finally, the use of ecological momentary assessment through digital platforms such as the Travel Buddy offer an innovative way to collect holistic data related to TD that will lead to better opportunities for transportation planners, engineers, and social service providers to work together to address the needs of environmental justice populations, including lower-income older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205520762098821
Author(s):  
Stephanie P Goldstein ◽  
Adam Hoover ◽  
E Whitney Evans ◽  
J Graham Thomas

Objectives Behavioral obesity treatment (BOT) produces clinically significant weight loss and health benefits for many individuals with overweight/obesity. Yet, many individuals in BOT do not achieve clinically significant weight loss and/or experience weight regain. Lapses (i.e., eating that deviates from the BOT prescribed diet) could explain poor outcomes, but the behavior is understudied because it can be difficult to assess. We propose to study lapses using a multi-method approach, which allows us to identify objectively-measured characteristics of lapse behavior (e.g., eating rate, duration), examine the association between lapse and weight change, and estimate nutrition composition of lapse. Method We are recruiting participants (n = 40) with overweight/obesity to enroll in a 24-week BOT. Participants complete biweekly 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to self-report on eating behavior, including dietary lapses. Participants continuously wear the wrist-worn ActiGraph Link to characterize eating behavior. Participants complete 24-hour dietary recalls via structured interview at 6-week intervals to measure the composition of all food and beverages consumed. Results While data collection for this trial is still ongoing, we present data from three pilot participants who completed EMA and wore the ActiGraph to illustrate the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of this work. Conclusion This protocol will be the first multi-method study of dietary lapses in BOT. Upon completion, this will be one of the largest published studies of passive eating detection and EMA-reported lapse. The integration of EMA and passive sensing to characterize eating provides contextually rich data that will ultimately inform a nuanced understanding of lapse behavior and enable novel interventions. Trial registration: Registered clinical trial NCT03739151; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03739151


Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112098388
Author(s):  
Kevin M. King ◽  
Max A. Halvorson ◽  
Kevin S. Kuehn ◽  
Madison C. Feil ◽  
Liliana J. Lengua

There is a small body of research that has connected individual differences in negative urgency, the tendency to report rash actions in response to negative emotions, with self-report depressive and anxiety symptoms. Despite the conceptual overlap of negative urgency with negative emotionality, the tendency to experience frequent and intense negative emotions, even fewer studies have examined whether the association of negative urgency with internalizing symptoms hold when controlling for negative emotionality. In the current study, we estimated the bivariate association between negative urgency and internalizing symptoms, tested whether they remained significant after partialling out negative emotionality, and tested whether these effects generalized to real-time experiences of negative emotions. We used data from five independent samples of high school and college students, assessed with global self-report ( n = 1,297) and ecological momentary assessment ( n = 195). Results indicated that in global self-report data, negative urgency was moderately and positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, and the partial association with depressive symptoms (but not anxiety symptoms) controlling for negative emotionality remained significant and moderate in magnitude. This pattern was replicated in ecological momentary assessment data. Negative urgency may convey risk for depressive symptoms, independent of the effects of negative emotionality.


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