Mindfulness-Informed Guided Imagery to Target Physical Activity: A Mixed Method Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to develop and test a brief mindfulness-informed guided imagery intervention to promote physical activity enjoyment and engagement by targeting cognitive and affective processes.
Results Summary
Participants found the guided imagery easy to use, enjoyable, and helpful, reporting increased physical activity frequency, enjoyment, mindfulness during exercise, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. Qualitative data indicated positive shifts in behavior, affect, and future-oriented thinking related to physical activity.
Population
Not specified (general population of underactive individuals implied).
Effective Dosage
~4-minute audio files (frequency not specified).
Duration
2 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | intervention feasibility and acceptability | participants | - | endorsed as easy to use, enjoyable and helpful | #1 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | behavior change | participants | - | reported positive shifts in | #2 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | physical activity enjoyment | participants | - | reported positive shifts in | #3 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | mindfulness during physical activity | participants | - | reported increased | #4 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | physical exercise self-efficacy | participants | - | reported increased | #5 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | satisfaction | participants | - | reported increased | #6 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | physical activity | participants | - | increased their frequency of | #7 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | positive affect during physical activity | participants | - | tended to experience | #8 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | future oriented thinking | participants | - | engaged in | #9 |
mindfulness informed guided imagery | increase | physical activity in a more positive light | participants | - | able to view | #10 |
Physical activity offers substantial mind-body health benefits and reduced mortality, yet many individuals are chronically underactive. Physical activity interventions may benefit from integrative approaches that join components of mindfulness and neurobiological models of behavior. Mindfulness increases one's awareness of cognitions and physical sensations to potentially facilitate self-regulation, while neurobiological models such as the dual system model of health behavior offer guidance on improving physical activity intervention targets. This 2-phase study includes an initial development process to create brief (∼4 min) mindfulness informed guided imagery audio files that target distinct cognitive and affective processes to promote physical activity. In the second phase, participants completed a 2-week pilot intervention study to gather qualitative and quantitative data on intervention feasibility and acceptability. Participants endorsed the mindfulness informed guided imagery as easy to use, enjoyable and helpful. Over a 2-week intervention period participants reported positive shifts in behavior change, physical activity enjoyment, increased mindfulness during physical activity, and increased physical exercise self-efficacy and satisfaction. Interview data revealed that participants increased their frequency of physical activity and tended to experience positive affect during physical activity, engaged in future oriented thinking and were able to view physical activity in a more positive light. Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of an integrative online mindfulness informed guided imagery intervention to promote physical activity enjoyment and engagement. This study extends health behavior change intervention research and provides supporting evidence for a flexible and tailorable online mindfulness-based intervention.