Testing the Efficacy of an Online Social Network Intervention to Increase Social Support for Physical Activity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study was designed to determine whether participation in an online social network intervention increases perceived social support for physical activity versus a minimal education control group by conducting a randomized controlled trial with 140 female undergraduate students. The investigators hypothesize that participants in the physical activity centered online social network intervention group will have greater increases in perceived social support for physical activity compared to minimal web based physical activity education controls.

Official Title
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Using Facebook to Increase Social Support for Physical Activity: The INSHAPE Study

Conditions
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Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: online social network enrollment plus education and self monitoring
* Behavioral: Web education control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: female under the age of 25 currently enrolled full time or part time student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill classified as an undergraduate answers no to all questions on an exercise risk factor questionnaire (PAR-Q) or is cleared in writing by a physician to participate in an independent exercise program a score of less than 3 on the SCOFF eating disorders questionnaire less than 30 minutes per day of self reported moderate or vigorous physical activity regular Facebook use as defined by self reported owning of an account and use of at least 30 minutes per day willing to provide informed consent willing to participate in the intervention literate in the English language.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 24 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: online social network<br> | Behavioral: online social network enrollment plus education and self monitoring<br>* Participants are enrolled in an online social network designed to increase social support for physical activity and will self monitor physical activity and receive educational materials at a dedicated study website.<br>|
| Active Comparator: web education control<br> | Behavioral: Web education control<br>* Participants will receive access to a dedicated study website where they can view educational materials related to physical activity<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mean perceived social support for physical activity scores on the Peer/Friend Support for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Scale. | The primary outcome measure is the mean score of a 19 item, 7 point scale that measures the frequency of social support interactions over the previous 6 weeks. | 10 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Physical activity in kilocalories on the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire/College Alumnus Questionnaire |  | 12 weeks |