Digital Intervention for Physical Activity

NCT07130734 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 00000675
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The present study will assess the effects of a four-week digitally delivered intervention on physical activity and depressive symptoms among adults experiencing at least moderate depressive symptoms. The main questions this research aims to answer are:

• Does a digitally-delivered intervention increase physical activity levels?
• Does a digitally-delivered intervention reduce symptoms of depression? Researchers will compare an intervention promoting physical activity to a passive control (does not receive the intervention) group to see if the intervention reduces depressive symptoms and increases physical activity levels. Participants will:
• Visit the laboratory at two separate time points before group assignment, separated by one week of physical activity monitoring
• Be randomly assigned to complete four weeks of a digital intervention prompting engagement in physical activity or have their mental health symptoms monitored over four weeks (i.e., passive control group)
• Visit the laboratory at two separate time points after the intervention, separated by one week of physical activity monitoring

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder; Anxiety; Stress

Keywords

Physical Activity; Digital Intervention; Depression; Mobile Application

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Depressive Symptoms

  Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) will be used to assess changes in symptoms of depression. The DASS-21 includes 7 items that assess for depression. Total scores for depression range from 0-42, with higher scores indicating greater depression severity.

  pre-intervention, at the two-week time point during the intervention, and immediately after the intervention

• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

  Physical activity will be assessed using a wrist-worn accelerometer before and after the intervention. Physical activity outcomes will be calculated as amount of time spent in a specific intensity.

  pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Digital Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants allocated to this group will be instructed to download a Pathverse mobile application on their Apple or Android smartphone device. The Pathverse mobile application will be used to send participants daily push notifications to engage in physical activity of their choice. During on-boarding at pre-intervention, each participant will choose approximately five types of physical activity they find enjoyable that they would like to engage in throughout the four-week intervention. They will report on the physical activity they completed, along with the duration and intensity of each activity. Participants will have the choice of when they would like to receive their daily notifications on their smartphone device.

Behavioral: Digital Physical Activity

Passive Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will be informed that their mental health will be monitored over four weeks as a control condition. After the study, they will be offered the digital PA intervention, if desired.

Interventions

Digital Physical Activity BEHAVIORAL

The Pathverse mobile application platform will be downloaded on each participant's smartphone. Participants will be guided on how to download and use the application, as well as how to interact with the application during the intervention period. Participants will choose approximately five types of physical activity they enjoy before the intervention and will be prompted to complete these physical activities throughout the intervention. Participants will also self-report the duration and type of physical activity performed each day of the intervention.

Digital Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Between the ages of 19 and 40 years
• Verbally fluent in English (i.e., must be able to speak or understand English)
• No uncorrected visual or hearing impairment
• Moderate depressive symptoms or greater of at least 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 screening instrument
• Eligible to participate in physical activity
• Physically inactive (i.e., engaging in less than 150 min of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity)
• Owns an Apple or Android mobile device, willing to download the Pathverse app , and willing to keep the device on during the study period
• Not currently pregnant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Auburn University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kinesiology Building

Auburn, Alabama, 36849, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Motor Activity; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Christopher J Brush, Ph.D.

CONTACT

334-844-4483; cjbrush@auburn.edu

Karly A Knudson, B.S.

CONTACT

kak0146@auburn.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The investigator and outcomes assessor will be unaware of group assignment; research staff working for the investigator will perform randomization. Participants will know whether they are assigned to the digital physical activity or passive control arm.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Between-subjects randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2025
• First Posted: August 19, 2025
• Study Start: September 22, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion: May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)