# Early phase clinical trial to test the feasibility of an ACT-based physical activity promotion program for adults with depressive symptoms

> **NIH NIH R34** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $354,048

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Up to 25% of U.S. adults have clinically significant depressive symptoms5,6 and people who experience these
symptoms are at increased risk of all-cause mortality7 and chronic disease8-23 Engaging in regular physical
activity (PA) can help alleviate depressive symptoms27-31 and reduce risk of chronic diseases, such as CVD32-36
and type 2 diabetes,37-41 that are associated with depression. Despite the benefits of PA for those with
depressive symptoms, depressive symptoms consistently predict PA nonadherence.42-45 Factors such as
decreased distress tolerance46-52 and low motivation53-60 make adherence to regular PA particularly difficult for
adults with depressive symptoms. Thus, an important problem that needs to be addressed is how to help
adults with depressive symptoms overcome barriers to regular PA. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(ACT)61,62 is a mindfulness-informed intervention that is efficacious for fostering behavior change in various
healthy populations and for treating depression. ACT enhances motivation for functional activities in depressed
individuals by helping them to clarify personal values consistent with behavioral goals, and foster present-
moment, nonjudgmental awareness (i.e., mindfulness) and acceptance of internal experiences to increase
distress tolerance. These foci of ACT may be applied to address the intolerance of negative affective response
to PA and low motivation for PA that serve as barriers to regular PA among adults with depressive symptoms.
The goal of the proposed project is to conduct a feasibility clinical trial comparing group-based ACTivity to
PA+Education among 60 low-active adults (ages 18-65) with elevated depressive symptoms at two Greater
Providence YMCA branches. Participants will be randomized to treatment condition, followed for 6 months,
including the 8-week treatment, and receive a 6-month YMCA membership to equate access to PA facilities.
Aim 1: Develop and demonstrate training and intervention fidelity procedures for bachelor’s level
interventionists to direct the ACTivity and PA+Education interventions. Aim 2: Demonstrate feasibility of
recruitment, randomization, retention, and data collection procedures to conduct an individually randomized
group treatment trial (IRGT). Aim 3: Demonstrate credibility (i.e., how convincing and logical a treatment
seems) and acceptability of the ACTivity and PA+Education programs. Impact: The proposed research is a
necessary step to prepare for a future multi-site RCT that has the potential to change clinical practice
guidelines if shown to be effective. Specifically, if shown to be effective, ACTivity will provide a community-
based treatment that can be delivered at local YMCAs by bachelor’s level staff to increase MVPA among
depressed adults and thereby decrease their risk for chronic disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10462685
- **Project number:** 5R34AT011302-02
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** David M Williams
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $354,048
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10462685

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10462685, Early phase clinical trial to test the feasibility of an ACT-based physical activity promotion program for adults with depressive symptoms (5R34AT011302-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10462685. Licensed CC0.

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