Digital Intervention for Physical Activity and Depression

Launched by AUBURN UNIVERSITY · Aug 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether a four-week digital program can help adults who are feeling moderately depressed increase their physical activity and reduce their symptoms of depression. The program encourages participants to be more active using a mobile app, and researchers will compare this group to another group that doesn’t receive the program but has their mental health symptoms monitored. The goal is to see if using this digital approach can make a real difference in both mood and activity levels.

To take part, you need to be between 19 and 40 years old, speak English well, have moderate or higher depressive symptoms, and be physically inactive (doing less than 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week). You also need to own a smartphone and be willing to use the study app. The study involves visiting the lab a few times before and after the four-week program, with a week of physical activity tracking at each point. Pregnant individuals or those with certain health issues won’t be eligible. This study is not yet recruiting, but it offers a chance to see if a simple, app-based program can support mental health and encourage healthier habits.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Between the ages of 19 and 40 years
• • Verbally fluent in English (i.e., must be able to speak or understand English)
• • No uncorrected visual or hearing impairment
• • Moderate depressive symptoms or greater of at least 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 screening instrument
• • Eligible to participate in physical activity
• • Physically inactive (i.e., engaging in less than 150 min of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity)
• • Owns an Apple or Android mobile device, willing to download the Pathverse app , and willing to keep the device on during the study period
• • Not currently pregnant
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • - Participants will not qualify for the current study if they do not meet the above inclusion criteria.