# Feasibility and Acceptability of an Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior and Increase Light Physical Activity in Assisted Living Residents

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $41,496

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Too much sedentary behavior increases the risk for chronic disease, loss of physical function, disability,
and all-cause mortality. The 2018 physical activity guidelines emphasize the importance of moving more and
sitting less. There is a great need for interventions to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults because they
are the most sedentary age group. Little work has been done to address sedentary behavior in older adults
residing in assisted living (AL) facilities, even though these individuals tend to be more sedentary than
community-dwelling older adults. Exercise-specific self-efficacy enhancing interventions have been successful
in promoting physical activity in middle-aged adults, healthy older adults, and older adults with chronic disease.
Ms. Webster modified a well-established self-efficacy enhancing intervention (Active for Life) to be appropriate
for older adults in AL. She interviewed AL residents about their preferences, requested their feedback and
suggestions on the intervention, and modified the intervention based on their recommendations.
 Specific aims are to 1) describe feasibility and acceptability of the intervention for older adults in AL
settings and 2) examine the feasibility and acceptability of collecting outcome measurements of objectively-
measured sedentary behavior and physical activity, self-efficacy for exercise, value of physical activity, self-
rated health, physical function, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Ms. Webster will recruit residents from four AL
facilities. The intervention will be conducted in small groups, twice a week for three months. Each session will
include walking, behavioral strategies/education, and circuit training (strength and balance exercises). A
thorough evaluation of feasibility and acceptability will be conducted.
 Ms. Webster is working on a three-manuscript dissertation and this fellowship will support the completion of
her work. The first manuscript is a systematic review on sedentary behavior in the oldest-old adults, >80 years
of age. The second is a measurement project to identify valid methods for processing accelerometer data that
can be used to measure sedentary behavior in older adults. These two projects are currently in progress. The
third will describe results of the proposed feasibility and acceptability study.
 The proposed training plan will provide Ms. Webster with skills and knowledge to build a program of
research focused on sedentary behavior and physical activity in older adults. The training plan includes
objectives for developing methodological skills, becoming a proficient researcher, and obtaining expertise in
the field of sedentary behavior and physical activity in older adults. Training will take place at the University of
Michigan School of Nursing, an institution with abundant resources, and Ms. Webster will work with a primary
sponsor who has successfully implemented similar interventions in older adult populations. Her me...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065052
- **Project number:** 1F31NR018784-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Katelyn Elizabeth Webster-Dekker
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $41,496
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065052

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065052, Feasibility and Acceptability of an Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior and Increase Light Physical Activity in Assisted Living Residents (1F31NR018784-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065052. Licensed CC0.

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