An Evaluation of a Mobile Health-Health Action Process Approach Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour and Stress in Adult Office Workers - Randomized Controlled Trial

Sedentary behaviour (SB) has been linked with a variety of negative health consequences which can be diminished by increasing frequency of breaks. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) is an effective behaviour change model for reducing SB in adult office workers. The objective of this study was to evaluate a mobile health HAPA-based sedentary behaviour intervention in office workers. Fifty-three participants (Mean age 40.62, 79.2% women) were randomized into a treatment group or a no-contact control group in a four-week, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. All SB outcomes were assessed from Baseline to Week 4, perceived stress was measured at Baseline and Week 4. Large significant effects (hp2 = 0.235 – 0.466) favouring the intervention group were found for break frequency, sitting and moving time. Findings suggest a Smartphone Ecological Momentary Assessment (SEMA3) delivered HAPA intervention can increase SB break frequency and moving time and decrease sitting time in office workers