Component analysis and training of the Step it UP! Game to staff working with adults with disabilities in a residential and vocational facility

Author

Rebecca Seward, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Redner, Ryan

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2021) recommend that individuals engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. However, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities frequently fall short of meeting recommended exercise guidelines (Draheim et al., 2002; Kim et al., 2011; Pan, 2008; Rimmer & Rowland, 2008; Stubbs et al., 2016). The Step it UP! Game, an interdependent group contingency, is an effective intervention for increasing the step counts of adults with disabilities (Seward & Redner, 2023). While research has demonstrated that various behavioral interventions are effective at increasing physical activity levels (Rotta et al., 2023), results are not maintained (Barte et al., 2010). Therefore, interventions intended to remain in place indefinitely may be useful to maintain participation in exercise-related activities long-term. Incorporating these interventions into existing program and staffing structures is one way to achieve this aim. Therefore, the purpose of Study 1 was to identify which components of the Step it UP! Game are necessary to produce the greatest step counts among participants. An additive component analysis was utilized to evaluate the components of the Step it UP! Game on the step counts of adults with disabilities. Results indicated that the entire Step it UP! Game treatment package was necessary to yield substantial increases in the level of physical activity among adults with disabilities. The purpose of Study 2 was to train paraprofessionals to implement the Step it UP! Game. Three staff members (N = 3) were trained to implement the Step it UP! Game using video modeling and behavior skills training. The percentage of correct implementation was evaluated using a concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. Baseline percentage of correct implementation was 38.8% (range, 30.0% – 52.4%). Following training staff members rapidly mastered the skill in a few sessions. Overall, the results of both studies indicate that the entire Step it UP! Game treatment package was necessary to produce sufficient behavior change results in adults with disabilities and BST with video modeling was successful in training paraprofessionals to independently implement the Step it UP! Game with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.