The Effects Of The Web-based WeActive And WeMindful Interventions On Physical Activity And Resilience

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of an aerobic and resistance training (WeActive) and mindful exercise (WeMindful) web-based interventions in improving physical activity (PA) and resilience among college students. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to either an aerobic and resistance training group (WeActive; n = 31) or a mindful exercise group (WeMindful; n = 24). Each group attended two virtual 30-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) via Qualtrics one week prior to (pretest), and after the intervention (posttest), and 6 weeks after the intervention (follow up). RESULTS: The repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant main effect of time for total PA (F = 8.20, p = 0.001), vigorous PA (F = 3.90, p = 0.027), and walking (F = 8.67, p = 0.001) in both groups. The post-hoc tests indicated that the WeActive group showed a significant increase in vigorous PA from pretest to posttest (t = -2.5, p = 0.04) while the WeMindful group showed a significant decrease in total PA from pretest to follow-up (t = 3.6, p = 0.03) and from posttest to follow up (t = 2.5, p = 0.002). There was a significant interaction effect of time and group for moderate PA (F = 4.81 p = 0.01) and walking (F = 3.32 p = 0.047), indicating that the WeActive group showed a n increase in moderate PA and walking across all time points while the WeMindful group showed a decrease in moderate PA across all time points. The WeMindful group showed an increase in walking from pretest to posttest, then a decline from posttest to follow up. There was a significant main effect of time for resilience (F = 4.15, p = 0.024). The post-hoc tests revealed that both the WeActive and WeMindful groups showed a significant increase in resilience scores from pretest to follow up (t = -2.74, p = 0.02; t = -2.54, p = 0.04), respectively. The results showed no significant differences in resilience scores between the two groups regardless of time. CONCLUSION: Both interventions were effective in increasing resilience from pretest to 6-week follow up. Only the WeActive intervention was effective in increasing moderate PA and walking over time. These findings suggest that web-based PA interventions may strengthen the resilience of college students.