Item Details

abstract

The purpose of VESPA was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality (VR) as a medium for remote group-mediated behavioral intervention delivery among older adults, and to explore the effect of a VR-delivered versus video-conference (VC)-delivered remote activity intervention on physical activity (PA) levels and social connection. Methods: We randomized 9 low-active older adults (66.8±4.8 years) to a 4-week home-based, group-mediated PA intervention delivered via either VR or VC. Analysis: Feasibility (i.e., number of participants reporting high levels of nausea, total sessions attended, adherence to behavioral prescription, number of VR accesses outside of scheduled meeting times) and acceptability (i.e., participant feedback on technological tools and program design) were illustrated via descriptive statistics. ANCOVA models were used to explore group differences in self-efficacy, social connection, and physical activity following the program. Results: All participants experienced low levels of VR related sickness and the ANCOVA models that revealed all participants improved in PA, functional performance, and the VR group had better social cognitive outcomes compared to the VC group. Discussion: VESPA suggests VR may be a useful medium for social physical activity programming in older adults and further work leveraging large samples and long follow-up durations is needed.

subject

Behavior

Exercise

Physical Activity

Self-Efficacy

Social Connection

Virtual Reality

contributor

Kershner, Kyle Isaac (author)

Fanning, Jason (committee chair)

Brubaker, Peter H (committee member)

Brooks, Amber K (committee member)

date

2021-06-03T08:36:18Z (accessioned)

2021-06-03T08:36:18Z (available)

2021 (issued)

degree

Health and Exercise Science (discipline)

identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/98834 (uri)

language

en (iso)

publisher

Wake Forest University

title

THE VIRTUALLY ENGAGING SOCIALLY WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (VESPA) STUDY: A PILOT TRIAL

type

Thesis