# Leveraging social networks: a novel physical activity intervention for senior housing

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $125,146

## Abstract

This K01 application proposes career development and research activities customized to facilitate the
candidate's (Dr. Noah Webster) transition from conducting basic social science research to behavioral
intervention research. The candidate's long-term career goals include becoming an independent research
scientist conducting research aimed at: a) improving the health and independence of older adults; and
b) reducing later life health disparities. This will involve developing, testing, implementing, and disseminating a
social network-based intervention to improve participation in behavioral health (e.g., physical activity)
interventions within low resource settings. Career Development/Training Aims: In order to accomplish career
goals the candidate is in need of targeted and interdisciplinary training in: 1) intervention development;
2) intervention evaluation; and 3) objective assessment of physical activity. This training will be facilitated
through coursework and interactions with an interdisciplinary mentoring team led by Dr. Neil Alexander.
Training Environment: The candidate is situated within the largest academically-based social science institute
in the world. The resources available to him at the Institute for Social Research as well as the University of
Michigan's Schools of Medicine and Public Health together offer an unparalleled supportive and stimulating
environment for conducting research at the intersection of social science and intervention research. Research
Aims: While only 16% of people age 65+ engage in recommended physical activity levels, increases may be
achieved through activation of social resources. A social network-based approach that systematically identifies
and involves influential agents of change in a community is proposed to facilitate physical activity-related
information dissemination and behavior change. This project will leverage Go4Life, NIA's evidence-based
physical activity campaign and capitalize on the strength of social ties. The intervention addresses socio-
economically linked health disparities by developing the intervention for use in affordable (HUD subsidized)
senior housing. The project will address three specific aims: Aim 1) Identify agents of change in an affordable
senior housing community who will then be invited to form a committee to disseminate Go4Life materials
through planning, publicizing, and participating in community-wide activities over 12 months. Aim 2) Evaluate
intervention feasibility using a mixed methods approach. Aim 3) Establish preliminary network effect on
changes in physical activity and identify influential network mechanisms. The proposed feasibility study is the
first step in using locally available and low-cost resources to affect behavior change among socio-economically
vulnerable senior housing residents. In the short-term, findings will provide preliminary data to conduct a multi-
site efficacy trial which will implement and evaluate successful components of the in...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9890046
- **Project number:** 1K01AG062754-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Noah James Webster
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $125,146
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-15 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9890046

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9890046, Leveraging social networks: a novel physical activity intervention for senior housing (1K01AG062754-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9890046. Licensed CC0.

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