title: Impact of Small Monetary Incentives on Exercise in University Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research has demonstrated that health outcomes are significantly improved with the application of financial incentives. However, relatively larger incentives are not typically sustainable and removal of incentives tends to result in attrition of behavior. The feasibility of using relatively smaller incentives to improve physical activity is unclear. The aim of the present study is to determine whether small financial incentives (maximum $5.00 per week) can improve exercise-related energy expenditure of inactive individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two university students (20 ±1.6 years old) were randomized into incentive or non-incentive conditions. Exercise-related caloric expenditure was tracked over 10 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample size yielded 62% power. The repeated measures ANCOVA, controlling for body mass index, indicated a main effect of condition (F = 5.50, p =.03) with no significant interaction (F = 2.25, p = .06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study demonstrates initial feasibility in implementing small financial incentives to promote exercise behavior in previously inactive young adults. Due to the small sample size, results should be interpreted with caution and further research is warranted to improve and maintain exercise behavior in response to relatively smaller incentives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. kstrohac@utk.edu.
authors.forename: Kelley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strohacker
authors.affiliation: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence RI, USA.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Galárraga
authors.affiliation: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence RI, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence RI, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Fricchione
authors.affiliation: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence RI, USA.
authors.forename: Mariah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.affiliation: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence RI, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult