Can Behavioural Interventions be Used Effectively to Increase Non-Sedentary Behaviour? An Evaluation of Automated Prompting, Intermittent Praise, and Goal Setting among Older Adults in a Residential Setting

Abstract

Excessive sedentary behaviour (sitting and reclining) has only recently started emerging as a significant risk to both physical and mental health. Furthermore, elderly residents of retirement communities are among the most sedentary of people, due to inability or perceived inability, lack of access to education and resources, and habitual behaviour. In terms of instigating a behaviour change, techniques used in the field of behaviour analysis have consistently shown success, both in experimental and applied settings. Thus, despite little research considering behavioural interventions to promote non-sedentary behaviour, these may be highly effective and beneficial. This study implemented the behavioural techniques of prompting, social reinforcement with praise, and goal setting procedures to increase breaks in sedentary behaviour and time engaged in non-sedentary activities for five older adults living in retirement villages in New Zealand. The key intervention components were likely ineffective, as participants had trouble detecting the prompts, and instances of praise occurred at a low frequency. Results revealed that, although some improvements in non-sedentary behaviour occurred, effect sizes were negligible, and therefore inconclusive. However, some larger effects on non-sedentary behaviour did occur during maintenance probes after the intervention. This study lends itself to the continued research of non-sedentary behaviour in elderly communities. Future research ought to focus on motivation and antecedent-based interventions as well as behavioural techniques.