| Abstract: | Although telephones and the mail are often used to promote physical activity, their ability to produce long-term maintenance is unclear. In this study, 140 men and women aged 50–65 years received 1 year of telephone counseling aimed at the adoption of higher (i.e., more vigorous) versus lower intensity (i.e., moderate) exercise. After 1 year, participants were rerandomized to a 2nd year of contact via (a) telephone and mail or (b) predominantly mail. Participants who were prescribed higher intensity exercise and who predominantly received mail had better exercise adherence during the maintenance year than those who received telephone and mail. Both strategies were effective in promoting maintenance in the lower intensity condition. Results suggest that after successful adoption of physical activity with the help of telephone counseling, less intensive interventions are successful for physical activity maintenance in older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
