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Differential Programming Needs of College Students Preferring Web-Based Versus In-Person Physical Activity Programs
Journal article   Open access

Differential Programming Needs of College Students Preferring Web-Based Versus In-Person Physical Activity Programs

Stephanie P. Goldstein, Evan M. Forman, Meghan L. Butryn and James D. Herbert
Health communication, v 33(12), pp 1509-1515
01 Jan 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2017.1372048
PMID: 28933953
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/283038View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Communication Health Care Sciences & Services Health Policy & Services Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Social Sciences
College students report several barriers to exercise, highlighting a need for university-based programs that address these challenges. In contrast to in-person interventions, several web-based programs have been developed to enhance program engagement by increasing ease of access and lowering the necessary level of commitment to participate. Unfortunately, web-based programs continue to struggle with engagement and less-than-ideal outcomes. One explanation for this discrepancy is that different intervention modalities may attract students with distinctive activity patterns, motivators, barriers, and program needs. However, no studies have formally evaluated intervention modality preference (e.g., web-based or in-person) among college students. The current study sought to examine the relationship between intervention modality preference and physical activity programming needs. Undergraduate students (n=157) enrolled in psychology courses at an urban university were asked to complete an online survey regarding current activity patterns and physical activity program preferences. Participants preferring web-based physical activity programs exercised less (p=.05), were less confident in their abilities to exercise (p=.01), were less likely to endorse the maintenance stage of change (p<.01) and perceived more barriers to exercising (p<.01) than those who preferred in-person programming. Findings suggest that students preferring web-based programming may require programs that enhance self-efficacy by fostering goal-setting and problem-solving skills. A user-centered design approach may enhance the engagement (and therefore effectiveness) of physical activity promotion programs for college students.

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12 citations in Web of Science
9 citations in Scopus

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Web of Science research areas
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Health Policy & Services
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