Evaluating a Nondirective Health Coaching Package and a Directive Coaching Package for Increasing Physical Activity

Author

Hailey E. Donohue, University of the PacificFollow

Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Matthew P. Normand

First Committee Member

Carolynn Kohn

Second Committee Member

Bethany Raiff

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a worldwide public health problem. Applied behavior analysis has demonstrated success in this area; interventions such as goal setting, self-monitoring, and feedback have produced increases in physical activity of adults. Nevertheless, strategies with a more nondirective approach, such as health coaching, are gaining traction in practice independent of behavior analytic approaches. We do not know about the relative effects of nondirective approaches and the established, directive interventions in applied behavior analysis, or about client preference for nondirective and directive approaches. The present study employed a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate a largely nondirective, client-centered health coaching approach for increasing physical activity of adults and the subsequent introduction of a directive coaching approach. Four adult females participated in the study remotely via telehealth. Active zone minutes were the primary dependent variable in the present study, and physical activity metrics were measured by the Fitbit Inspire 2. Meaningful increases in active zone minutes were observed for 1 of 4 participants, and preference for nondirective and directive coaching styles varied across participants.

Pages

114

Recommended Citation

Donohue, Hailey E.. (2022). Evaluating a Nondirective Health Coaching Package and a Directive Coaching Package for Increasing Physical Activity. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3802