Technology-based versus in-person deposit contract treatments for promoting physical activity |
| |
Authors: | Lisa M Stedman-Falls Jesse Dallery |
| |
Institution: | Department of Psychology, University of Florida |
| |
Abstract: | Deposit contracts involve participants depositing their own money and earning it back contingent on behavior change. Deposit contracts are empirically supported treatments for promoting health behavior, but they have a history of poor uptake. We compared the effectiveness and acceptability of technology-based versus in-person deposit contracts for promoting physical activity with 12 individuals. Participants' daily step counts were monitored using Fitbits across 6 weeks, and treatment preferences were assessed at the end of the study. The 2 types of treatments were equally effective in increasing physical activity, but the technology-based deposit contracts were preferred by most participants. Most participants also reported that their preference was related to convenience. Technology-based implementation may be one way to improve deposit contract uptake, while maintaining similar effectiveness compared to in-person procedures. |
| |
Keywords: | contingency management deposit contract technology in-person obesity social validity |
|