The Effect of Social Norm-based Intervention with Observable Behaviour on Physical Activity among Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of providing descriptive norms messages with personal identification in promoting physical activity among adolescents by measuring step counts via a randomized controlled trial (NCT03081013). Methods: A total of 311 participants aged 13-16 were randomized into two study arms (Onymous and Anonymous Arms). Each arm consisted of 13 groups of 12 participants. During the trial, participants received weekly short message service (SMS) about their past week’s physical activity performance Participants in the Anonymous Arm received information about step counts of group members ranked from highest to lowest. Participants in the Onymous Arm received the same information with the group members’ full names. Participants’ quality of life, depression, and physical activity social support, self-efficacy and enjoyment before and after the intervention were also evaluated. This study adheres to the CONSORT guidelines. Results: The number of steps was not higher when descriptive norm message was onymous compared to when it was anonymous. Scores in quality of life, depression, social support, self-efficacy, and enjoyment of physical activity were not significantly different between both arms (p>0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicated that the effect of providing descriptive norms messages containing personal identification on physical activity promotion was not evident in the main analysis.

How can an agent-based model explore the impact of interventions on children's physical activity in an urban environment?

“…This implies that encouraging children to be active in diverse groups (in terms of PA level), while being supportive of each other, will likely have a positive effect on the least active. This speaks specifically to our theoretical understanding of the role social support and social norms may play when integrated into a wider systemic approach to behaviour change ( Draper et al, 2015 ; Lee et al, 2020 ).…”

Climate change mitigation readiness in the transport sector: a psychological science perspective

“…The majority of the research focuses on promoting public transport usage other than examining the impact of social norms on climate change mitigation readiness. Although social norms may promote change readiness, previous research shows that social norms may only enhance behavioural change for individuals who are worse than the norm (Lee et al , 2020) but may not have an impact on individuals who are already better than the norm. Further, the research shows that social norms may either enhance carbon-intensive lifestyles or obstruct them (Steentjes et al , 2017).…”