# Developing and testing an electronically delivered acceptance- and mindfulness-based intervention to increase physical activity in breast cancer survivors

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2020 · $29,486

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Many cancer survivors suffer from long-term health challenges, including the threat of cancer recurrence and
secondary malignancies, decreased physical functioning, and a markedly increased risk of comorbidities such
as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, bone loss and osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Research
suggests that physical activity protects against these problems in cancer survivors, with some of the strongest
evidence to date observed in breast cancer survivors. The long-term goal of our work is to advance the science
of physical activity promotion in cancer survivors. The overall objective of this project is to develop a novel
intervention for physical activity promotion in insufficiently active breast cancer survivors who have completed
primary treatment. This behavioral intervention will employ several noteworthy innovations to increase physical
activity to recommended levels, including (1) being delivered electronically and (2) incorporating principles and
behavior-change techniques from the field of behavioral therapy. The intervention will feature acceptance- and
mindfulness-based physical activity-promoting content grounded in the principles of Acceptance and
Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a behavioral therapy that supplements skills training with cognitive
strategies to increase psychological flexibility: one’s ability to accept and persist despite uncomfortable
sensations, thoughts, and feelings that may accompany adherence to valued behaviors. ACT has risen to
prominence in the field of mental and behavioral health and has been established as a useful therapeutic
approach for effecting behavioral change linked to a wide range of health outcomes. Emerging evidence
suggests that electronically delivered interventions derived from ACT tenets hold promise for addressing public
health priorities such as smoking cessation and physical activity promotion. The first Aim of this study will be to
develop this intervention via an iterative design process that will explicitly ensure the final product’s scientific
rigor, relevance to the priority population, and design usability. We will develop content with (1) collaborative
feedback from an expert panel and (2) qualitative and quantitative feedback from insufficiently active breast
cancer survivors who experience intervention content. In Aim 2, we will pilot test the developed intervention in
this population to determine its acceptability (i.e., its perceived utility, perceived ease of use, ability to generate
intrinsic motivation). We will also explore changes in participants’ physical activity and related cognitions to
inform our next steps, which may include testing intervention efficacy with a more robust study design. A
detailed training plan is in place to develop the applicant’s quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills,
proficiency in scientific communication, and fluency in navigating career-related opportunities. The fellowship
will benef...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9848438
- **Project number:** 5F31CA236433-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael C. Robertson
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $29,486
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2020-12-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9848438

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9848438, Developing and testing an electronically delivered acceptance- and mindfulness-based intervention to increase physical activity in breast cancer survivors (5F31CA236433-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9848438. Licensed CC0.

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