Association for Behavior Analysis International

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39th Annual Convention; Minneapolis, MN; 2013

Event Details


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Symposium #20
CE Offered: BACB
Behavior Analytic Approaches to Physical Activity
Saturday, May 25, 2013
1:00 PM–2:20 PM
102 B-C (Convention Center)
Area: CBM/CSE; Domain: Applied Research
Chair: J. Philip Erb Jr. (University of Florida)
CE Instructor: Raymond G. Miltenberger, Ph.D.
Abstract:

This eclectic symposium will include four talks on behavior analytic approaches to physical activity. The topics to be addressed include a functional analysis of exercise-promoting variables, the use of preference assessments to elucidate exergame preferences, and the preliminary efficacy of contingency-management interventions to increase physical activity among adults. Dr. Matthew Normand’s talk will discuss the results of a functional analysis to investigate the effects of several consequent variables on moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in children. Dr. Raymond Miltenberger will evaluate the utility of various methods for assessing students’ preferences for exergames. Dr. Wendy Donlin will discuss the effectiveness of a prize-based contingency-management intervention to increase physical activity among adults. Finally, Allison Kurti, M.S., will discuss the feasibility, acceptability, and the preliminary efficacy of a web-based, contingency-management intervention to increase walking in sedentary adults.

Keyword(s): contingency-management, exercise, exergame preferences, MVPA
 

A Functional Analysis of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity in Young Children

TRACY A. LARSON (University of the Pacific), Matthew P. Normand (University of the Pacific), Allison J. Morley (Syracuse University), Bryon G. Miller (University of the Pacific)
Abstract:

Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity continue to climb and threaten the health and well being of about 30% of children. Although physical activity can reduce the risk of obesity and other health complications, estimates show that children are largely sedentary. Behavioral interventions targeting physical activity have been implemented to increase physically active behaviors, however, the function of physical activity was not established, possibly contributing to the poor maintenance of such interventions. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a functional analysis to investigate the effects of several consequent variables on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The level of MVPA exhibited by four pre-school children was observed in four conditions: alone, attention contingent on MVPA, adult interaction contingent on MVPA, and escape from task demands contingent on MVPA. These four conditions were compared to a naturalistic baseline and to a control condition. Overall, the results indicate that the children were most active when interactive play was contingent on MVPA. Such information might be used to arrange social environments that encourage physical activity, especially MVPA, and these arrangements can be tailored to the individual child.

 

Evaluation of Preference for Exergames Among Elementary Students

CHRISTIE CACIOPPO (University of South Florida), Raymond G. Miltenberger (University of South Florida), Victoria Fogel (University of South Florida), Lisa Witherspoon (University of South Florida), Steven Sanders (University of South Florida), Jillian Donohue (University of South Florida), Holly Downs (University of South Florida)
Abstract:

Exergaming has been shown to increase physical activity over standard PE classes with elementary students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods for assessing students’ preferences for exergames because the use of the most preferred exergames is likely to result in the most physical activity. The study evaluated a paired choice preference assessment, a rank order procedure, and social validity surveys to determine the preference order of six exergames for six elementary students and measured heart rates as the children played the six exergames. The results of this study show that preference varied across children and across the different assessment methods. The rank order procedure was significantly correlated with the paired choice assessment. On the other hand, the social validity survey was not significantly correlated with the paired choice assessment. Implications for increasing physical activity in children are discussed.

 

Prize Bowl Reinforcement for Increasing Stepping in Healthy Adults

AMANDA L. GIBSON (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), Wendy Donlin Washington (University of North Carolina at Wilmington)
Abstract:

Most American adults would not be classified as "physically active," according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines (2010). Contingency management interventions have been used to target physical activity with mixed effects. Some adults respond to contingency-based interventions (responders), while others are insensitive (nonresponders). In a multiple baseline across participants contingency management study in our lab, 15 healthy adults wore a Fitbit® pedometer for six weeks and earned prize draws for reaching a daily step criterion based upon a percentile schedule of reinforcement. We compared the structural features of activity between responders and nonresponders. Changes in walking structure appeared to be mostly a function of increases in total active minutes per day during the intervention phase. Additionally, a log-survivor analysis of inter-step intervals revealed that subjects could meet criterion by increasing the average length of bouts, frequency of bouts, or rate of stepping within a bout. This analysis informs how specific features of baseline activity levels can be used to tailor interventions to increase physical activity.

 

Preliminary Efficacy of a Web-Based, Contingency Management Intervention to Increase Walking in Sedentary Adults

ALLISON KURTI (University of Florida), Jesse Dallery (University of Florida)
Abstract:

A majority of adults fail to obtain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended amount of physical activity, and have an increased risk of developing health problems (e.g., heart disease, hypertension, Type II diabetes). The present study used a web-based, contingency management (CM) intervention to increase walking (measured in steps by the Fitbit®) in sedentary adults 50-plus years of age (N=6). A changing criterion design was used, in which participants received financial consequences for meeting a gradually increasing series of step goals on a minimum ofthree days during consecutive, five-day blocks. Results showed that study adherence was high, participants rated the intervention favorably on a treatment acceptability questionnaire, and all participants substantially increased their steps over the course of the study according to experimenter-arranged criteria. These results support the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a web-based, CM intervention to increase walking in sedentary adults.

 

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