Active Body and Mind Intervention for Older Adults

A Pilot Study of Testing the Multilevel Active Body and Mind (ABM) Intervention for Older Adults

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of wearable activity trackers with self-regulatory techniques for promoting physical activity (PA) in older adults. In addition, this study aimed to investigate the impact of a multicomponent PA intervention on life satisfaction, happiness, eudaimonic well-being, and depressive symptoms, reflecting different dimensions of psychological well-being, in older adults.

Fifty-nine participants living in retirement communities were voluntarily assigned to a 12-week multi-component PA intervention program or an attention control group. Participants in the intervention group were asked to take three 45-min supervised group exercise lessons per week and wear wearable activity trackers during the weekdays for 12 weeks. Four components of psychological well-being were assessed at baseline and the end of the intervention including life satisfaction, happiness, eudaimonic well-being, and depressive symptoms. The intervention effect on each component of psychological well-being was analyzed using linear mixed models after controlling for potential confounders. Participants' experiences of using the wearable activity tracker were assessed after the 12-week intervention through an 8-item questionnaire and individual interviews

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 65 or older,
• able to speak and read English fluently
• able to walk for 10 feet without human assistance

Exclusion Criteria:

• conditions preventing them from doing exercises