Types Of Social Support And Change In Daily Steps Among Adults

Abstract

Evidence has shown a favorable link between social support and leading a physically active lifestyle. Yet, little is known about the types of social support that may be the most influential. PURPOSE: This study examined the association between physical activity (PA) change and the types of social support adults participating in a PA intervention identified as the most helpful for their PA efforts. METHODS: Insufficiently active adults were randomized as self-selected teams of 3-8 participants (n=24 teams) to a 12-week technology-mediated, theory-based PA treatment (n=59 participants) or the same intervention plus a real-time PA gamified challenge (n=57 participants). There were no significant differences between conditions in changes in mean daily steps, so analyses collapsed groups and examined participants at 12 weeks (N=116) and 1 year (n=98). Participants completed an online survey at both time points, which asked them to select the most helpful type of social support they received (informational; tangible; emotional; esteem). Configural Frequency Analysis was used to analyze participants grouped according to their characteristic configurations in terms of meaningful changes in mean daily steps from baseline (> 1,000 steps/d) as measured by an accelerometer and reported type of perceived social support. RESULTS: Participants averaged 4853+1333 steps/d at baseline and 39% and 36% achieved a > 1000 steps/d increase from baseline at 12 weeks and 1 year, respectively. Esteem support emerged as the most frequently reported most helpful type of support at 12 weeks and 1 year, followed by emotional and tangible support. At 12 weeks, those who achieved a > 1,000 steps/d increase and reported emotional support as the most helpful type represented the most notable statistically significant configuration (n=14; p<.001). At 1 year, those who achieved a > 1,000 steps/d increase and reported tangible support as the most helpful type represented the most notable statistically significant configuration (n=9; p=.004). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that different types of support may be especially influential at varying phases of the behavior change process. Future studies should employ designs that allow for the direct comparison of the effectiveness of different types of support on physical activity in adults.