Can a \u2018rewards-for-exercise app\u2019 increase physical activity, subjective well-being and sleep quality? An open-label single-arm trial among university staff with low to moderate physical activity levels

Sakari Lemola,Anna Gkiouleka,Mark T Elliott,Anu Realo,Lukasz Walasek,Brieze Read,Nicole K Y Tang

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-10794-w

Abstract

BackgroundThis study examined the impact of a ‘rewards-for-exercise’ mobile application on physical activity, subjective well-being and sleep quality among 148 employees in a UK university with low to moderate physical activity levels.MethodsA three-month open-label single-arm trial with a one-year follow-up after the end of the trial. Participants used the Sweatcoin application which converted their outdoor steps into a virtual currency used for the purchase of products available at the university campus’ outlets, using an in-app marketplace. The primary outcome measure was self-reported physical activity. Secondary measures included device-measured physical activity, subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect), and self-reported sleep quality.ResultsThe findings show an increase in self-reported physical activity (d = 0.34), life satisfaction (d = 0.31), positive affect (d = 0.29), and sleep quality (d = 0.22) during the three-month trial period.ConclusionThe study suggests that mobile incentives-for-exercise applications might increase physical activity levels, positive affect, and sleep quality, at least in the short term. The observed changes were not sustained 12 months after the end of the trial.

Highlights

This study examined the impact of a ‘rewards-for-exercise’ mobile application on physical activity, subjective well-being and sleep quality among 148 employees in a UK university with low to moderate physical activity levels
The present study examines whether the use of the Sweatcoin application in a work environment increases physical activity levels among physically ‘inactive’ to ‘moderately active’ employees, and whether this further leads to wider improvements in their sleep quality and Subjective well-being (SWB)
Earlier research has suggested that when examining the associations between SWB and health-related variables, the components of SWB should be assessed as distinct constructs [41] and for this reason, we examined three components of SWB—life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect—separately in the following analyses, so that we would not lose any valuable information about SWB by merging them

Summary

Introduction

This study examined the impact of a ‘rewards-for-exercise’ mobile application on physical activity, subjective well-being and sleep quality among 148 employees in a UK university with low to moderate physical activity levels. Physical activity is associated with better health and wellbeing [3, 6, 8, 18, 31, 39, 42]. Increased physical activity among adults is associated with higher levels of both affective and cognitive aspects of subjective well-being (SWB [27, 42];). It has been found that routine activities like walking have a positive impact on mood [24] and that leisure time exercise has a positive effect on perceived quality of life mediated via increased positive and decreased negative affect [23]. It has been suggested that employers might be interested in encouraging physical activity of their staff as active employees may be healthier and show better performance at work [29]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion