Impact of Loss Aversion Messaging and Anticipated Regret for Inaction on Exercise Adherence in Older Adults
Testing the Impact of Loss Aversion Messaging and Anticipated Regret for Inaction on Exercise Adherence in Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Trial
1 other identifier
interventional
148
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if messages focused on not losing the functional benefits of exercise can help older adults with walking difficulty continue to exercise regularly. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do these messages make people more likely to anticipate regretting it if they do not exercise? Does more anticipated regret make it more likely they will exercise more regularly? Researchers will compare two versions of messages to see if the content of these one of these message types is more effective than the other. Participants will complete a daily 5-minute at home exercise program for 4 months and complete regular online surveys to track their progress and report their feelings regarding regret.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Jun 2026
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
April 10, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 20, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
June 1, 2026
ExpectedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2027
Study Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
July 1, 2027
April 20, 2026
April 1, 2026
1 year
April 10, 2026
April 16, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Anticipated Regret of Inaction
One is equivalent to definitely not anticipating regret and 8 indicates definitely anticipating regret.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Intention to Complete Exercise Program
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16
Adherence to Exercise Program
Data collected daily, assessed over the 16 weeks of intervention.
Study Arms (2)
Loss Aversion Messaging
EXPERIMENTALStandard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily. Loss aversion messages will be included with those messages in the experimental condition on a maximum of 3 out of the 7 days each week. There will be 3 themes (related to their performance of daily exercises) featured as topics for the loss aversion messages. The three themes are: 1) standing up from a chair (i.e., chair stands), 2) going up and down stairs (i.e., aerobic steps), and 3) walking longer distances (i.e., walking laps).
Standard Adherence Messaging
ACTIVE COMPARATORStandard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily.
Interventions
FAST is a brief, daily, at-home exercise program designed for older adults with difficulty walking. The program includes 5 exercises performed for 30 seconds each, during which time participants try to complete as many repetitions as they can, followed by 30 seconds of rest. The 5 exercises are: chair stands, countertop pushups, aerobic steps, resistance band rows, and walking laps. Participants are sent daily reminders and links for self-monitoring their performance.
Loss aversion messages will be included with those messages in the experimental condition on a maximum of 3 out of the 7 days each week. There will be 3 themes (related to their performance of daily exercises) featured as topics for the loss aversion messages. The three themes are: 1) standing up from a chair (i.e., chair stands), 2) going up and down stairs (i.e., aerobic steps), and 3) walking longer distances (i.e., walking laps).
Standard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Completed 12 months of FAST intervention
You may not qualify if:
- No planned surgeries within the upcoming 4 months
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- TRIPLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Principal Investigator
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 10, 2026
First Posted
April 20, 2026
Study Start (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2027
Last Updated
April 20, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-04