A social media-based physical activity intervention: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Online social networks, such as Facebook™, have extensive reach, and they use technology that could enhance social support, an established determinant of physical activity. This combination of reach and functionality makes online social networks a promising intervention platform for increasing physical activity.


OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy of a physical activity intervention that combined education, physical activity monitoring, and online social networking to increase social support for physical activity compared to an education-only control.


METHODS
RCT. Students (n=134) were randomized to two groups: education-only controls receiving access to a physical activity-focused website (n=67) and intervention participants receiving access to the same website with physical activity self-monitoring and enrollment in a Facebook group (n=67). Recruitment and data collection occurred in 2010 and 2011; data analyses were performed in 2011.


METHODS
Female undergraduate students at a large southeastern public university.


METHODS
Intervention participants were encouraged through e-mails, website instructions, and moderator communications to solicit and provide social support related to increasing physical activity through a physical activity-themed Facebook group. Participants received access to a dedicated website with educational materials and a physical activity self-monitoring tool.


METHODS
The primary outcome was perceived social support for physical activity; secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity.


RESULTS
Participants experienced increases in social support and physical activity over time but there were no differences in perceived social support or physical activity between groups over time. Facebook participants posted 259 times to the group. Two thirds (66%) of intervention participants completing a post-study survey indicated that they would recommend the program to friends.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of an online social networking group plus self-monitoring did not produce greater perceptions of social support or physical activity as compared to education-only controls. Given their promising features and potential reach, efforts to further understand how online social networks can be used in health promotion should be pursued.


BACKGROUND
This study is registered at clinicaltrials.govNCT01421758.
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. dncavallo@ucla.edu
David N
DN
Cavallo
Deborah F
DF
Tate
Amy V
AV
Ries
Jane D
JD
Brown
Robert F
RF
DeVellis
Alice S
AS
Ammerman
D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009043:Motor Activity; D061108:Social Media; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult