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A recent investigation from the Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Change at the University of Bath has revealed that integrating step tracking with mindfulness exercises through a mobile application can significantly enhance individuals’ motivation to engage in physical activity.
Featured in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, this research illustrates that participants who tracked their steps alone experienced a similar level of short-term physical activity as those who combined step tracking with a daily mindfulness training regimen. Notably, while both groups increased their exercise levels during the study, those who engaged in mindfulness training exhibited a greater intention to remain active—an essential psychological factor for fostering enduring behavior transformation.
Dr. Masha Remskar, the lead researcher from the University of Bath’s Department of Psychology, commented:
“Our results indicate that even brief mindfulness training paired with step tracking can enhance people’s desire to be more physically active, potentially leading to long-term benefits. Cultivating intrinsic motivation is crucial, particularly at a time when many are facing challenges in maintaining their activity levels.”
The study involved 109 adults in England who were not meeting general physical activity recommendations. Over the span of 30 days, all participants were instructed to aim for 8,000 steps daily using basic tracking devices. Half of the participants supplemented this with a daily mindfulness program accessed through a mobile app, focusing on body awareness, movement, and exercise. These mindfulness sessions were crafted by the research team in partnership with the Medito Foundation and are accessible for free via the Medito mobile application.
As the month concluded, both groups demonstrated increased physical activity. On average, the mindfulness group reported an increase of about 373 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, compared to 297 minutes in the step-only group.
Participants utilizing the mindfulness app expressed a significantly higher intention to continue exercising, suggesting the emergence of a gradual and potentially sustainable behavior shift. Nonetheless, the study did not extend to a follow-up period to further analyze this development.
Dr. Remskar emphasized:
“Intentions serve as one of the most powerful indicators of future behaviors. The promising aspect of our findings is that integrating mindfulness with step tracking appears to enhance mental commitment to physical activity, establishing a groundwork for potential future shifts in behavior. We are thrilled to collaborate with Medito, allowing anyone interested to access the mindfulness program at no cost.”
Dr. Max Western, a co-author from the Department for Health at the University of Bath, added:
“This initial study that merges mindfulness training with strategies aimed at promoting movement and fostering internal motivation for physical activity is very encouraging. There is considerable potential here, and we aim to refine these tools to increase their engagement and effectiveness, especially for individuals contending with various competing responsibilities.”
The research team is currently investigating methods to enhance the appeal and efficacy of mindfulness training. Future studies will assess whether the motivational improvements observed in this study translate into sustained real-world physical activity over time.
This research was supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
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