Page 18 - Spring 2016 Newsletter

Step It Up! Use of

Encouragement
2014-2015

in a Pedometer AASP Research Grant

Intervention
Recipient

Theresa Brown, PhD, CHES, TrestleTree, LLC
Theresa

BROWN

Worksites are a viable option for targeted adult interventions to increase email content as well as self-eficacy for exercise. Daily step counts

exercise behaviors, but an intentional approach is necessary to achieve were also tracked. Exercise adherence was deined as reporting daily

optimal results (Kahn-Marshall & Gallant, 2012). Researchers have steps at least 75% of the time.

found that pedometer-based interventions are successful at increasing
Our study revealed several results. First, we wanted to ensure that it
employees’ physical activity (Chan, Ryan, & Tudor-Locke, 2004) and that
was possible to write emails using a C/TI and EI framework. We found
emails used in walking interventions are an effective tool for increasing
that the C/TI email group were signiicantly more likely to identify
activity (Dinger, Heesch, & McClary, 2005). However, the speciic
their email content as high C/TI and low EI compared to the ego and

guidelines used when encouraging participants in person or in writing
neutral groups. Similarly, the ego group were signiicantly more likely
are not well deined in the literature. The framework that exercise
to identify their email content as high EI and low C/TI as compared to
professionals use when structuring a worksite wellness program
the other two email groups. Thus, exercise professionals can promote
may impact individuals’ exercise experiences. Both achievement
a C/TI (or EI) motivational climate in wellness programs through email
goal perspective theory (AGPT; Nicholas, 1984, 1989) and the caring
content.
climate (Newton et al., 2007) provide guidelines for how to inluence

Second, we were interested in whether self-eficacy was impacted by
individuals’ experiences. The present study investigated the impact of

encouraging email messages framed using AGPT and the caring climate the email content over the 10-week period. The results revealed that

on individuals’ exercise self-eficacy and average number of steps conidence to reach daily step goals increased over time. However,

obtained during a 10-week employee wellness pedometer program.
the type of email that participants received did not signiicantly impact

their self-eficacy. These results were contrary to our hypothesis and
Participants (N = 106; 22-66 age range; M= 42.74 + 12.05) were enrolled
age might indicate that for the content of the email to impact self-eficacy,
in a walking program sponsored by a worksite wellness committee. All
the speciic barriers that individuals typically face should be addressed

participants were given a pedometer and randomly assigned to one
in the email wording as well as strategies to overcome those barriers.
of three email groups: (a) caring/task-involving (C/TI, n = 37); (b) ego-

involving (EI; n = 35); or (c) neutral (NU; n = 34). Online surveys were Finally, we were interested in whether the email content encouraged

administered (pre, mid, and post), measuring participants’ perceptions individuals to stay in the program to completion and if the amount

of the caring, task- and ego-involving climate as ascertained by the
of daily activity was impacted. We found that the email message

AASP Newsletter // Spring 2016 // Step it Up! Use of Encouragement in a Pedometer Intervention

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