Title
The Adoption and Spread of a Core-Strengthening Exercise Through an Online Social Network
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Publication Date
2014-3
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Muscle Strength; Exercise; Physical Fitness; Health Behavior; Social Networking; Internet
Disciplines
Behavioral Disciplines and Activities | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Preventive Medicine
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The present feasibility study describes engagement and spread of a Twitter-based core-strengthening challenge.
METHODS:
A challenge that entailed completing a core-strengthening exercise using a hashtag (#PlankADay) was circulated via Twitter. We surveyed users who joined during the first 2 months of the challenge to describe their characteristics, including social support for exercise and to what extent they invited others to join. We continued to track total users for 10 months.
RESULTS:
Of 407 individuals who joined in the first 2 months, 105 completed surveys. Among these, 81% were female and 86% Caucasian and mean age was 35.8. 72% participated for at least 1 month and 47% participated for at least 2 months. Survey participants reported that the challenge increased their enjoyment of abdominal exercise. Of the 68% of participants who invited others to participate, 28% recruited none, 66% recruited 1-5 users, and 6% recruited 10 or more users. Participants reported that online friends provided as much positive social support for exercise as family and in-person friends. In 14 months, 4,941 users produced 76,746 tweets and mean total tweets per user was 15.86 (SD = 75.34; range= 1-2888).
CONCLUSION:
Online social networks may be a promising mechanism to spread brief exercise behaviors.
Keywords
Twitter, exercise, social networks
DOI of Published Version
10.1123/jpah.2012-0040
Source
Pagoto SL, Schneider KL, Oleski J, Smith B, Bauman M. The adoption and spread of a core-strengthening exercise through an online social network. J Phys Act Health. 2014 Mar;11(3):648-53. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2012-0040. Link to article on publisher's website
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Related Resources
PubMed ID
23416874
Repository Citation
Pagoto, Sherry L.; Schneider, Kristin L.; Oleski, Jessica L.; Smith, Brian; and Bauman, Michael, "The Adoption and Spread of a Core-Strengthening Exercise Through an Online Social Network" (2014). Preventive and Behavioral Medicine Publications. 264.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/prevbeh_pp/264
