Effects of mindful physical activity on perceived exercise exertion and other physiological and psychological responses: results from a within-subjects, counter-balanced study

Background

Most adults are insufficiently active. Mindfulness training may increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) adoption and adherence. However, physiological and psychological factors underlying these effects are not well understood. This study examined the effects of an acute bout of MVPA, mindfulness training, and combined MVPA and mindfulness training on physiological and psychological outcomes.

Methods

Healthy adults (N = 29, Mage = 28.6) completed 20-min counterbalanced conditions: (a) mindfulness training (MIND); (b) moderate intensity walking (PA), and (c) moderate intensity walking while listening to MVPA-specific guided mindfulness training (PAMIND). Heart rate (HR), Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Feeling Scale (FS) and Blood Pressure (BP) were measured at rest, at regular intervals during each condition, and post-condition. Mindfulness, state anxiety, and self-efficacy were assessed pre- and post-condition.

Results

Average and peak HR, systolic BP (SBP), and RPE were significantly higher, and average and peak FS were significantly lower during the PA and PAMIND conditions compared to MIND (p < 0.001). Average RPE was significantly higher for PA compared to PAMIND (p < 0.001). Heart rate, feeling scale, body and mental events mindfulness, and self-efficacy for walking increased from pre to post (all p's < 0.001) for all conditions. Time by condition interactions were significant for change in heart rate, mental events mindfulness, and state anxiety from pre- to post-condition.

Conclusion

The physiological response to MVPA and PAMIND were similar. However, RPE was rated lower in the PAMIND condition, which could have implications for MVPA adoption and maintenance. Future work should further explore RPE combining MVPA and mindfulness training.

Predictors of program interest in a digital health pilot study for heart health

Digital health programs can play a key role in supporting lifestyle changes to prevent and reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A key concern for new programs is understanding who is interested in participating. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to utilize electronic health records (EHR) to predict interest in a digital health app called Lark Heart Health. Because prior studies indicate that males are less likely to utilize prevention-focused digital health programs, secondary analyses assessed sex differences in recruitment and enrollment. Data were drawn from an ongoing pilot study of the Heart Health program, which provides digital health behavior coaching and surveys for CVD prevention. EHR data were used to predict whether potential program participants who received a study recruitment email showed interest in the program by "clicking through" on the email to learn more. Primary objective analyses used backward elimination regression and eXtreme Gradient Boost modeling. Recruitment emails were sent to 8,649 patients with available EHR data; 1,092 showed interest (i.e., clicked through) and 345 chose to participate in the study. EHR variables that predicted higher odds of showing interest were higher body mass index (BMI), fewer elevated lab values, lower HbA1c, non-smoking status, and identifying as White. Secondary objective analyses showed that, males and females showed similar program interest and were equally represented throughout recruitment and enrollment. In summary, BMI, elevated lab values, HbA1c, smoking status, and race emerged as key predictors of program interest; conversely, sex, age, CVD history, history of chronic health issues, and medication use did not predict program interest. We also found no sex differences in the recruitment and enrollment process for this program. These insights can aid in refining digital health tools to best serve those interested, as well as highlight groups who may benefit from behavioral intervention tools promoted by additional recruitment efforts tailored to their interest.

Weight Loss in a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program for People in Health Professional Shortage and Rural Areas

Individuals with prediabetes living in hard-to-reach and underserved areas experience barriers to accessing traditional in-person preventive health services. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a preventive health care program designed to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Although there have been increasing numbers of remote DPPs accessible, there are little data on the clinical outcomes of digital DPPs for members living in hard-to-reach and underserved areas. This study assessed whether living in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and a rural versus urban area impacted the weight loss of N = 7266 members of a fully digital program called Lark DPP. Secondary analyses included between-group comparisons of program retention and member characteristics, demographics, and socioeconomics. Percent weight loss did not differ by HPSA (P = 0.16) or rural/urban status (P = 0.15), despite greater potential barriers for members residing in HPSAs (eg, highest starting body mass index, lowest income, lowest education). Mean percent weight loss for members residing in an HPSA and rural area was mean (M) = 4.75%, standard error (SE) = 0.09; for members in a non-HPSA, rural area M = 4.96%, SE = 0.16; for members in an HPSA, urban area M = 4.55%, SE = 0.13; and for members in a non-HPSA, urban area M = 4.77%, SE = 0.13. Members of a fully digital DPP achieved weight loss that did not differ by HPSA or urban/rural designation. Fully digital programs offer a solution to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in areas where residents may not otherwise have access to diabetes prevention services.

Relationships Between Blood Pressure Reduction, Weight Loss, and Engagement in a Digital App–Based Hypertension Care Program: Observational Study

Background

Home blood pressure (BP) monitoring is recommended for people with hypertension; however, meta-analyses have demonstrated that BP improvements are related to additional coaching support in combination with self-monitoring, with little or no effect of self-monitoring alone. High-contact coaching requires substantial resources and may be difficult to deliver via human coaching models.

Objective

This observational study assessed changes in BP and body weight following participation in a fully digital program called Lark Hypertension Care with coaching powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

Methods

Participants (N=864) had a baseline systolic BP (SBP) ≥120 mm Hg, provided their baseline body weight, and had reached at least their third month in the program. The primary outcome was the change in SBP at 3 and 6 months, with secondary outcomes of change in body weight and associations of changes in SBP and body weight with participant demographics, characteristics, and program engagement.

Results

By month 3, there was a significant drop of –5.4 mm Hg (95% CI –6.5 to –4.3; P<.001) in mean SBP from baseline. BP did not change significantly (ie, the SBP drop maintained) from 3 to 6 months for participants who provided readings at both time points (P=.49). Half of the participants achieved a clinically meaningful drop of ≥5 mm Hg by month 3 (178/349, 51.0%) and month 6 (98/199, 49.2%). The magnitude of the drop depended on starting SBP. Participants classified as hypertension stage 2 had the largest mean drop in SBP of –12.4 mm Hg (SE 1.2 mm Hg) by month 3 and –13.0 mm Hg (SE 1.6 mm Hg) by month 6; participants classified as hypertension stage 1 lowered by –5.2 mm Hg (SE 0.8) mm Hg by month 3 and –7.3 mm Hg (SE 1.3 mm Hg) by month 6; participants classified as elevated lowered by –1.1 mm Hg (SE 0.7 mm Hg) by month 3 but did not drop by month 6. Starting SBP (β=.11; P<.001), percent weight change (β=–.36; P=.02), and initial BMI (β=–.56; P<.001) were significantly associated with the likelihood of lowering SBP ≥5 mm Hg by month 3. Percent weight change acted as a mediator of the relationship between program engagement and drop in SBP. The bootstrapped unstandardized indirect effect was –0.0024 (95% CI –0.0052 to 0; P=.002).

Conclusions

A hypertension care program with coaching powered by AI was associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in SBP following 3 and 6 months of program participation. Percent weight change was significantly associated with the likelihood of achieving a ≥5 mm Hg drop in SBP. An AI-powered solution may offer a scalable approach to helping individuals with hypertension achieve clinically meaningful reductions in their BP and associated risk of cardiovascular disease and other serious adverse outcomes via healthy lifestyle changes such as weight loss.

Discovering Engagement Personas in a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program

Digital health technologies are shaping the future of preventive health care. We present a quantitative approach for discovering and characterizing engagement personas: longitudinal engagement patterns in a fully digital diabetes prevention program. We used a two-step approach to discovering engagement personas among n = 1613 users: (1) A univariate clustering method using two unsupervised k-means clustering algorithms on app- and program-feature use separately and (2) A bivariate clustering method that involved comparing cluster labels for each member across app- and program-feature univariate clusters. The univariate analyses revealed five app-feature clusters and four program-feature clusters. The bivariate analysis revealed five unique combinations of these clusters, called engagement personas, which represented 76% of users. These engagement personas differed in both member demographics and weight loss. Exploring engagement personas is beneficial to inform strategies for personalizing the program experience and optimizing engagement in a variety of digital health interventions.

Engagement in Digital Health App-Based Prevention Programs Is Associated With Weight Loss Among Adults Age 65+

Background

Digital health programs have been shown to be feasible and effective for the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Contrary to expectations, findings also suggest that older adults have higher levels of engagement with digital health programs than younger adults. However, there is a paucity of research examining outcomes among older adults in digital health programs and whether higher engagement is related to better outcomes.

Methods

We examined weight loss outcomes for 538 users aged 65 and older participating in one of two app-based prevention programs called the Diabetes Prevention Program and the Prevention Program, respectively. Both programs were available on a single artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital health platform and shared a common goal of weight loss. We also examined the relationship between key engagement metrics (i.e., conversing with the AI-powered coach, weigh-ins, and initiating educational lessons early in the program) and weight loss outcomes.

Results

The average weight loss of all enrollees having a weight measurement after after the 9th week was 4.51%, and the average weight loss of the Diabetes Prevention Program enrollees meeting a minimum engagement level was 8.56%. Greater weight loss was associated with a greater number of days with AI-powered coaching conversations (p = 0.03), more weigh-ins (p = 0.00), and early educational lesson initiation (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Digital health programs powered by AI offer a promising solution for health management among older adults. The results show positive health outcomes using app-based prevention programs, and all three engagement metrics were independently associated with weight loss.

Using ecological momentary assessment to understand associations between daily physical activity and symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

PURPOSE

Understanding real-time relationships between physical activity (PA) and symptoms during chemotherapy (CT) could have important implications for intervention. This study used ecological momentary assessment to examine the relationship between objective PA and symptoms during CT.

METHODS

Breast cancers patients (n = 67; M_age = 48.6 (SD = 10.3)) participated in data collection at three time points during CT: beginning, middle, and end. At each time point, participants answered four prompts assessing symptoms and wore an accelerometer for 10 days (3 days pre-CT, day of CT, and 6 days post-CT). Multilevel linear regression models examined the between- and within-person associations between moderate to vigorous (MVPA) and light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and same and next-day symptom ratings controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

On days when individuals engaged in more LPA or MVPA, separately, they reported improved affect, anxiety, fatigue, physical functioning (walking and activities of daily living), pain, and cognition that day (p < 0.001 for all). Findings were consistent for next-day symptom ratings with the exception that only previous day LPA was related to next-day fatigue and neither LPA nor MVPA were related to next-day cognition (p < 0.001 for all). No between-person effects were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Within person higher than usual PA on a given day, regardless of intensity, is associated with improved symptoms ratings on the current and next day.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Encouraging breast cancer patients undergoing CT to engage in daily PA could help manage CT-associated symptoms.

Optimization of a technology-supported physical activity promotion intervention for breast cancer survivors: Results from Fit2Thrive

BACKGROUND

The benefits of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for breast cancer survivors are well established. However, most are insufficiently active. Fit2Thrive used the Multiphase Optimization Strategy methodology to determine the effect of 5 intervention components on MVPA in this population.

METHODS

Two hundred sixty-nine participants (mean age, 52.5 years; SD, 9.9 years) received a core intervention (the Fit2Thrive self-monitoring app and Fitbit) and were randomly assigned to 5 intervention components set to on/off in a full factorial experiment: support calls, deluxe app, buddy, online gym, and text messages. The intervention was delivered over 12 weeks with a 12-week follow-up. MVPA was measured via accelerometry at the baseline (T1), at 12 weeks (T2), and at 24 weeks (T3). The main effects and interaction effects at each time point were examined for all components.

RESULTS

Trial retention was high: 91.8% had valid accelerometer data at T2 or T3. Across all conditions, there were significant increases in MVPA (+53.6 min/wk; P < .001) and in the proportion of survivors meeting MVPA guidelines (+22.3%; P < .001) at T2 that were maintained but attenuated at T3 (MVPA, +24.6 min/wk; P < .001; meeting guidelines, +12.6%; P < .001). No individual components significantly improved MVPA, although increases were greater for the on level versus the off level for support calls, buddy, and text messages at T2 and T3.

CONCLUSIONS

The Fit2Thrive core intervention (the self-monitoring app and Fitbit) is promising for increasing MVPA in breast cancer survivors, but the components provided no additional increases in MVPA. Future research should evaluate the core intervention in a randomized trial and determine what components optimize MVPA behaviors in breast cancer survivors.

Reach of a Fully Digital Diabetes Prevention Program in Health Professional Shortage Areas

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) offers lifestyle change education to adults at risk for diabetes across the United States, but its reach is curbed due, in part, to limitations of traditional in-person programs. Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPPs) that are fully digital may increase reach by overcoming these barriers. The aim of this research was to examine the reach of Lark's DPP, a fully digital artificial-intelligence-powered DPP. This study assessed geographic features and demographic characteristics of a sample of Lark DPP commercial health plan members with complete data (N = 16,327) and compared several demographic features with a large composite sample of members from DPPs across the nation (NDPP; N = 143,489) and a National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) sample of prediabetic adults in the United States (NHIS; N = 2118). Examination of the Lark DPP sample revealed that 24.4% of members lived in rural areas, 30.8% lived in whole county health professional shortage areas, and only 7.6% of members lived in a zip code with an in-person DPP. When comparing the Lark sample with the NDPP and NHIS samples, Lark DPP enrollees tended to be younger and have a higher body mass index (BMI) (p's < 0.001). Lark provides convenient access to a DPP for individuals living in hard-to-reach areas who may face barriers to participating in in-person or telephonic DPPs or who prefer a digital program. Compared with the NDPP sample, Lark is also reaching younger and higher BMI users, who are traditionally difficult to enroll and have a high need for intervention.

The Dyadic Health Influence Model

Relationship partners affect one another's health outcomes through their health behaviors, yet how this occurs is not well understood. To fill this gap, we present the Dyadic Health Influence Model (DHIM). The DHIM identifies three routes through which a person (the agent) can impact the health beliefs and behavior of their partner (the target). An agent may (a) model health behaviors and shape the shared environment, (b) enact behaviors that promote their relationship, and/or (c) employ strategies to intentionally influence the target's health behavior. A central premise of the DHIM is that agents act based on their beliefs about their partner's health and their relationship. In turn, their actions have consequences not only for targets' health behavior but also for their relationship. We review theoretical and empirical research that provides initial support for the routes and offer testable predictions at the intersection of health behavior change research and relationship science.

Patient perspectives on the causes of breast cancer: a qualitative study on the relationship between stress, trauma, and breast cancer development

Purpose: We qualitatively evaluated breast cancer survivors’ perception of the relation between breast cancer development and both childhood trauma and stressful life events in adulthood.

Methods: Women (N = 50) who have or had a positive breast cancer diagnosis completed a close-ended survey, a timeline of significant life events, and an in-depth interview. All interviews were transcribed and inductively coded using thematic analysis with an emphasis on patient perspectives of illness.

Results: Participants reported a perceived connection between breast cancer development and stressful life events, and four themes were identified: 1) experiencing major interpersonal stress in both childhood and adulthood, 2) ideas about the relationship between emotional stress and physical disease, 3) ideas about how different types of stress contribute to developing breast cancer, 4) post-treatment post-traumatic growth and meaning-making.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that of the participants who felt something could be causally attributed to their developing breast cancer, most of them made causal attributions between social, personal, and physical stress and trauma across the lifetime to the aetiology of their breast cancer. We suggest that breast cancer patients and survivors may benefit from additional psycho-social, stress-reducing, and/or somatic-based trauma-informed therapies to address stress and trauma.

Social cognitive variables and physical activity during chemotherapy for breast cancer: An intensive longitudinal examination

OBJECTIVE

Although physical activity is associated with better health outcomes in breast cancer survivors (BCS), activity often declines during cancer treatment. Social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs have been associated with physical activity in post-treatment BCS, but little is known about the relation between these constructs and physical activity during chemotherapy.

METHODS

BCS (n = 67; M_age  = 48.6 [SD = 10.3]) undergoing chemotherapy wore accelerometers and completed prompts in the morning and at night assessing same-day and next-day exercise self-efficacy, physical and psychological outcome expectations, and goal-setting for 10 consecutive days (3 days pre-, day of, and 6 days post-chemotherapy dose) at three time points (beginning, middle, and end of chemotherapy). Separate mixed models assessed between- and within-person associations of each of the SCT constructs associations with same- and next-day moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA), independently.

RESULTS

Within-person differences in all SCT variables were statistically significantly related to same-day MVPA (p's < 0.001) and LPA (p's < 0.001). Every one-point increase in SCT construct related to an increase in MVPA ranging from (a) 3.70 (self-efficacy) to 8.02 (physical outcome expectations) minute increase in MVPA and (b) 12.72 (self-efficacy) to 20.38 (physical outcome expectations) increase in LPA that day. No same-day between-person effects nor any next-day effects were significant.

CONCLUSION

MVPA and LPA were related to same-day within-person differences in SCT variables. Interventions targeted at increasing or mitigating chemotherapy-related declines in daily within-person changes in SCT constructs could help to increase physical activity among BCS during chemotherapy.

Well-being in the time of COVID-19: Do metaphors and mindsets matter?

Communications about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) often employ metaphors, which can help people understand complex issues. For example, public health messages may focus on “fighting” the disease, attempting to rouse people to action by instilling a sense of urgency. In contrast, change‐focused metaphors may foster growth mindsets and self‐efficacy—cornerstones of well‐being and action. We randomly assigned participants to read one of two articles—either an article about coronavirus that focused on fighting the war or an article that highlighted the possibility of change. In Study 1 (N = 426), participants who read the war, relative to the change, message reported lower growth mindsets and self‐efficacy and these in turn, predicted lower well‐being and weaker intentions to engage in health behaviours. In Study 2, (N = 702), we sought to replicate findings and included a no treatment control. We failed to replicate the effects of message condition, although both messages predicted greater self‐efficacy compared to the control. Similar to Study 1, growth mindsets predicted intentions to engage in recommended health behaviours and self‐efficacy predicted both well‐being and action. We discuss theoretical reasons for discrepancies as well as practical applications for developing public health communications.

Daily Physical Activity and Symptom Reporting in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: An Intensive Longitudinal Examination

BACKGROUND

Increased activity is beneficial during chemotherapy, but treatment-related symptoms may be a barrier. This study examines the relationship between daily fluctuations in symptoms and activity during chemotherapy.

METHODS

Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer [n = 67; M _age = 48.6 (SD = 10.3)] wore an accelerometer 24 hours/day and received four text prompts/day to rate symptoms for 10 consecutive days at the beginning, middle, and end of chemotherapy. Mixed-effects models were used to examine the between and within-person relationships between symptom ratings on a given day and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) on that day and the following day controlling for relevant covariates and using the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

For MVPA and LPA, within-person associations were statistically significant for same day affect, fatigue, pain, walking, activities of daily living (ADL) physical function, and cognitive function. Previous day anxiety was associated with next day LPA. Every one point worse symptom rating than an individual's overall average was associated with: (i) between 1.49 (pain) and 4.94 (fatigue) minutes less MVPA and between 4.48 (pain) and 24.72 (ADL physical function) minutes less LPA that day, and (ii) 11.28 minutes less LPA the next day. No between-person effects were significant for MVPA or LPA.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily within-person variations in symptoms were associated with MVPA and LPA during chemotherapy for breast cancer.

IMPACT

Future work should explore relationships between symptoms and activity further and identify whether tailoring to symptoms enhances efficacy of physical activity promotion interventions during chemotherapy.

Understanding the prevalence and correlates of implicit theories of weight in the United States: Insights from a nationally representative sample

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this research is to understand how mindsets about weight controllability in the United States relate to population health. We examined the distribution of people's implicit theories of weight, from an incremental (controllable) to an entity (not controllable) mindset, in a nationally representative sample, as well as their relation to: sociodemographic factors, beliefs about behaviour and genetics as causes of obesity and engagement in weight management-relevant behaviours.

METHODS

We report data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey 4.

RESULTS

A majority of respondents endorsed an incremental mindset of body weight, but endorsement of this mindset was stronger among younger, white respondents, and those with a higher income and more educational attainment. A stronger incremental mindset was related to stronger behaviour and weaker genetic causal beliefs about obesity, as well as a tendency to report increased engagement in weight management-relevant behaviours.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research provides evidence that although incremental mindsets are more common overall and associated with engagement in health behaviours that can contribute to or detract from population health, incremental mindsets are less common among individuals from more marginalised groups.