A Photography-based, Social Media Walking Intervention Targeting Autonomous Motivations for Physical Activity: Semistructured Interviews With Older Women

Abstract

Background Older adult women are at risk for negative health outcomes that engaging in sustained physical activity can help prevent. However, promoting long-term maintenance of physical activity in this population has proven to be a challenge. Increasing autonomous motivations (ie, intrinsic, integrated, and identified regulations) for physical activity may facilitate enduring behavior change. Digitally delivered games for health that take a celebratory technology approach, that is, using technology to create new ways to experience valued behaviors and express valued beliefs, may be a useful way to target autonomous motivations for physical activity. Formative research with the target population is needed to design compelling intervention content. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate older adult women’s reactions to and thoughts about a photography-based, social media walking game targeting autonomous motivations for physical activity. Methods During an individual semistructured interview, a moderator solicited feedback from 20 older adult women (age range 65-74 years) as part of formative research to develop a social media game featuring weekly walking challenges. The challenges were designed to target autonomous motivations for physical activity. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two reviewers conducted thematic content analysis on interview transcripts. Results We identified 3 overarching themes in qualitative data analysis. These reflected the playful experiences, value, and acceptability associated with the intervention challenges. Generally, participants understood what the challenges were asking them to do, proffered appropriate example responses, and indicated that the challenges would be enjoyable. Participants reported that the intervention content afforded many and varied playful experiences (eg, competition, discovery, exploration, expression, fellowship, humor, nurture, sensation). Further, participants indicated that the intervention increased their motivation for physical activity, occasioned meaningful shifts in perspective, increased their knowledge of various topics of interest, provided an opportunity to create valued connection with others, and provided health-related benefits. Participants suggested the intervention emphasize local history, nature, and cultural events. Conclusions The photography-based, social media walking game with relatively simple game mechanics was well received and judged to be apt to bring about a wide variety of emotive experiences. A clear, geographically specific identity emerged as a key driver of interest for intervention content. Taking a celebratory technology approach holds promise for targeting autonomous motivations for physical activity in older adult women.

Social-media based Health Education plus Exercise Programme (SHEEP) to improve muscle function among community-dwelling young-old adults with possible sarcopenia in China: A study protocol for intervention development

“…For instance, a pilot study in United States demonstrated that a social media-based (WeChat) health education was feasible, acceptable, and potentially efficacious in self-management education of older adults with type 2 diabetes [ 21 ]. Another qualitative research found that a photography-based, social media (Facebook) walking game was well received by older women and also benefited for increasing their motivation for physical activity, fostering a shift in perspective, increasing their knowledge, and providing health-related benefits to them [ 22 ]. TikTok, a platform for sharing short videos, has been phenomenal since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has reached Chinese seniors [ 23 ] by providing simple video-editing tools [ 24 ] and catering to specific informational and practical needs [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Social-media based Health Education plus Exercise Programme (SHEEP) to improve muscle function among young-old adults with possible sarcopenia in the community: a study protocol for intervention development

“…Some types of social media have been proven to be effective in medical studies to disseminate health knowledge or improve behaviour, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WeChat, Weibo [29][30][31][32][33][34] . More importantly, a number of studies have demonstrated that older populations are receptive to social media as a tool for knowledge dissemination or health intervention [35][36][37][38] . Particularly, TikTok, a platform for sharing short videos, has been phenomenal since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has reached Chinese seniors 39 by providing simple videoediting tools 40 and catering to specific informational and practical needs 41,42 .…”