Schedule of Events | Symposia

A technology-based randomized controlled trial of self-affirmation and gain-framed health messaging to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults

Poster Session D - Monday, March 31, 2025, 8:00 – 10:00 am EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Caitlin Walker^1,3 (caitlin.walker@mail.mcgill.ca), Meishan Ai², Nagashree Thovinakere^1,3,4, Arthur Kramer², Maiya Geddes^1,2,3,4,5,6; ¹McGill University, ²Northeastern University, ³Montreal Neurological Institute, ⁴Rotman Research Institute, ⁵Douglas Mental Health University Institute, ⁶Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sedentary behavior is a significant risk factor for chronic diseases and cognitive decline in aging. Older adults prioritize positive over negative information, and self-affirmation has been shown to reduce sedentary behavior in younger adults. However, the influence of self-affirmation on sedentary behavior change in older adults remains untested. Consequently, we developed a technology-based intervention combining self-affirmation and gain-framed messaging to reduce sedentary time in older adults (DOI:10.1016/j.cct.2021.106405). In a 6-week randomized controlled trial, 48 cognitively unimpaired, sedentary older adults were randomized into intervention (mean age=70.0±5.4) or active control (mean age=68.4±5.0) groups. Both groups received daily messages by smartphone or computer. The intervention group reflected on their highest-ranked value and received gain-framed health messages, whereas the control group reflected on an everyday activity and received loss-framed messages. Feasibility was assessed through adherence, usability ratings, and adherence-demographic relationships. Reward sensitivity and apathy were evaluated as predictors of behavior change. Neural correlates of self-affirmation and gain-framed messaging were examined using task-based fMRI. Results revealed high intervention adherence (0.92±0.08) and usability ratings. Adherence was unrelated to socioeconomic status or technology proficiency. While no group differences in sedentary behavior change were observed, higher reward sensitivity predicted reductions in sedentary behavior across all participants. FMRI results showed ventral striatal activation during gain-framed relative to neutral health messages, to a greater extent than during loss-framed compared to neutral health messaging. This study supports the feasibility of technology-based interventions in aging. Gain-framed health messaging engages the reward network and reward sensitivity predicts sedentary behavior change in older adults.

Topic Area: EMOTION & SOCIAL: Development & aging