A Feasibility Study Evaluating an Online Physical Activity Intervention for Young Adults with Low Mood and/or Depression Engaged in Community Primary Clinical Care

Background: Exercise is now recommended as a frontline treatment for depression (DS) in Canada. Implementation is an ongoing challenge. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel, online, physical activity (PA) intervention for youth with DS. Methods: Study 1: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with end-users to evaluate an existing alpha-intervention and inform intervention changes. Study 2: This study was a randomized, feasibility pilot trial of a 10-week, online, PA beta-intervention designed using the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework with a waitlist control. Youth aged 19-30 with mild to moderate DS not meeting Canada PA guidelines were recruited via community clinics and social media. Primary feasibility outcomes were recruitment rate, retention rate, and acceptability. Planned analyses included a qualitative thematic analysis, frequency counts and multiple one-way, between-groups ANCOVAs. Results: Study 1: Thematic analysis of seven participants’ interview data determined good initial acceptability, demand, and practicality. Five change ideas were integrated within a beta-intervention for trial. Study 2: Low rates of recruitment (N= 26, 21.7% total; 3.8% clinical), retention (n= 16, 61.5%), and acceptability (n= 11, 64.0%) were found. Secondary outcomes of PA (partial eta squared = 0.55) and DS (partial eta squared = 0.18), as well as tertiary M PAC behaviour variables: behaviour regulation (partial eta squared = 0.46) and identity (partial eta squared = 0.20), all favored the intervention group. Conclusions: Despite initial evidence of acceptability and demand, this trial is not recommended for RCT; rather further pilot research is required including active control group(s) and multi-site approaches to bolster recruitment

Author dc:creator

• Ross, Aleah

Advisor dc:contributor.supervisor

• Rhodes, Ryan E.

• physical activity
• low mood
• depression
• community care
• youth
• mental health
• intervention
• online

Statement dc:rights

• Available to the World Wide Web

Language dc:language.iso

en, English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1828/14862

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/14862