Reframing Retirement: An Examination of Identity Change and Self-Regulation Approaches to Promote Physical Activity
1 other identifier
interventional
159
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The primary objective of this clinical trial is to test the efficacy of an innovative multimodal eHealth \& mHealth intervention (focused on emphasizing identity/habit and/or self-regulation) on increasing moderate to vigorous (MVPA) across 12 months among newly retired adults not meeting Physical Activity guidelines at study baseline, thus at higher risk of age-related chronic diseases. The secondary objectives are to examine whether these approaches improve physical and mental well-being and health related fitness-outcomes. Principal Research Question 1: Does an intervention focused on identity/habit + self-regulation skills + education (ID) increase moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) compared with an intervention focused on self-regulation skills + education (SR), and an education control condition (ED)? Three-arm parallel design single blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomized to one of three groups (ID, SR, ED) for 12 months duration.
- After the initial screening process, eligible participants will be provided with an accelerometer-mailed or delivered in person-to wear for seven consecutive days. Data collected will verify baseline physical activity levels and determine final eligibility based on adherence to physical activity guideline thresholds.
- Participants will visit the lab for fitness testing and complete an online questionnaire See below in "detailed description" the breakdown/delivery given for each of the 3 arms.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Mar 2026
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
January 12, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 1, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
March 3, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 31, 2030
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
March 31, 2030
March 3, 2026
January 1, 2026
4.1 years
January 12, 2026
February 25, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
MVPA
Primary Outcome - MVPA will be measured with wGT3X-BT ActiGraph accelerometers, the gold standard for PA measurement in field settings. Participants will wear the devices during waking hours on a belt around the waist (with the device positioned above the right iliac crest) for seven consecutive days. Valid cut-points (counts per minute) for adults will be used to classify MVPA. For a day to be considered valid, there will need to be a minimum of 300 minutes (6 hours) within a 24-hour period of valid wear time.Missing data will be modelled from available data.
From enrollment to the end of data collection (Baseline, 6 Weeks, 3 Months & 6 Months & 12 months )
Secondary Outcomes (25)
Secondary Outcome Health-Related Fitness Measure 1 - Body Mass Index (BMI)
At Baseline & 6 Months
Secondary Outcome Health-Related Fitness Measure 2 - Waist Circumference
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months
Secondary Outcome Health-Related Fitness Measure 3 - Cardiovascular Fitness
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months
Secondary Outcome Health-Related Fitness Measure 4 - Upper-Body Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months
Secondary Outcome Health-Related Fitness Measure 5 - Lower-Body Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months
- +20 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (3)
Identity Intervention Condition
EXPERIMENTALThe ID condition will be comprised of a 6-week, 10 module format (1-2 modules released per week), covering all reflective, regulatory, and reflexive processes. Modules 8-10 cover behavior change techniques targeting habit and identity that correspond to PA during the transition to retirement. * Participants will be provided with an accelerometer to wear for a week. * Participants will then complete an online questionnaire and attend the laboratory for fitness testing. * All groups will receive support/booster check-ins on the same material as their intervention designation at 3-,6-, and 12 weeks and 6-months. * After the initial 6-week intervention period, participants will be given follow-up online questionnaires and accelerometers. * This will follow a similar protocol for the 3-, 6- and 12-month time period (6-month assessment will include fitness testing). * In addition, all participants will be asked to participate in an exit interview (at 6-months).
Self Regulation Intervention Condition
EXPERIMENTALSelf Regulation Intervention Condition will have access to modules 1 through 6 (reflective and regulatory processes). 4 additional modules will be included to ensure equivalence of dose across conditions. \& focus on general retirement considerations such as travel, socializing, and financial planning with the same style and formatting as the PA modules. Participants will be provided with an accelerometer to wear for a week. Participants will complete online survey \& attend fitness testing @ the lab. All groups receive support/booster check-ins on the same material as their intervention designation at 3-,6-, and 12 weeks and 6-months. After the initial 6-week intervention period, participants will be given follow-up online questionnaires and accelerometers. This will follow a similar protocol for the 3-, 6- and 12-month time period (6-month assessment will include fitness testing). All participants will be asked to participate in a 6 month exit interview.
Control Education Group
EXPERIMENTALControl Group will have access to education lessons 1 to 3 (reflective processes). 7 additional education lessons are included in the Control Education group to ensure equivalence of dose across conditions. * Participants will be provided with an accelerometer-mailed or delivered-to wear for seven consecutive days. * Following accelerometer wear, participants will complete an online questionnaire and attend the laboratory for fitness testing. * All groups will receive support/booster check-ins on the same material as their intervention designation at 3-,6-, and 12 weeks and 6-months. - After the initial 6-week intervention period, participants will be given follow-up online questionnaires and accelerometers. - This will follow a similar protocol for the 3-, 6- and 12-month time period (6-month assessment will include fitness testing). - In addition, all participants will be asked to participate in an end-of-trial semi-structured interview (at 6-months).
Interventions
The Digital Health Online Platform has 10 lessons that the participant will gain access to on a weekly basis. The Self Regulation (SR) Intervention Condition will have access to Lessons 1 through 6 (reflective and regulatory processes). Lesson titles are as follows: Lesson 1: Why Physical Activity Matters During Retirement Lesson 2: Physical Activity Enhances Your Mood and Wellbeing Lesson 3: Social Connections, Confidence and Enjoyment: Keys to an Active Life Lesson 4: Setting Goals and Planning Ahead for Active Living Lesson 5: Staying on Track: Monitoring Your Activity on Your Own and With Others Lesson 6: How to Keep Moving When You Don't Feel Like It 4 additional lessons will be included in the SR condition to ensure equivalence of dose across conditions.
The Digital Health Online platform has 10 lessons that the Identity (ID) Intervention Condition participant will gain access to on a weekly basis. Lesson titles are as follows: Lesson 1: Why Physical Activity Matters During Retirement Lesson 2: Physical Activity Enhances Your Mood and Wellbeing Lesson 3: Social Connections, Confidence and Enjoyment: Keys to an Active Life Lesson 4: Setting Goals and Planning Ahead for Active Living Lesson 5: Staying on Track: Monitoring Your Activity on Your Own and With Others Lesson 6: How to Keep Moving When You Don't Feel Like It Lesson 7: How to Build Lasting Habits Lesson 8: Habits That Last: Staying Active Through Change Lesson 9: Who You Are When You Move: Understanding and Building Identities Lesson 10: Staying Connected and True to Your Values
Control Group will have access to education lessons 1 to 3 (reflective processes). 7 additional education lessons are included in the Control Education group to ensure equivalence of dose across conditions. Participants will be provided with an accelerometer-mailed or delivered-to wear for seven consecutive days. Following accelerometer wear, participants will complete an online questionnaire and attend the laboratory for fitness testing. All groups will receive support/booster check-ins on the same material as their intervention designation at 3-,6-, and 12 weeks and 6-months. - After the initial 6-week intervention period, participants will be given follow-up online questionnaires and accelerometers. - This will follow a similar protocol for the 3-, 6- and 12-month time period (6-month assessment will include fitness testing). - In addition, all participants will be asked to participate in an end-of-trial semi-structured interview (at 6-months).
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adults aged 60-70 years
- Recently retired (within the past 1.5 years) from occupational work
- Access to the internet via computer or smartphone
- Able to engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) independently
- Participating in less than 150 minutes of MVPA per week, based on:
- Screening with Godin's Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, and Baseline accelerometry as secondary confirmation
You may not qualify if:
- \- Participation in 150 minutes or more of MVPA per week, based on questionnaire or accelerometry screening
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 2Y2, Canada
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Ryan Rhodes, PhD
University of Victoria
Central Study Contacts
Sandy Courtnall L Project Coordinator/Manager, Behavioural Medicine Lab
CONTACT
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
January 12, 2026
First Posted
March 3, 2026
Study Start
March 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
March 31, 2030
Study Completion (Estimated)
March 31, 2030
Last Updated
March 3, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-01