Physical and Psychological Outcomes of an Online vs. In-Person Training Program in Adults: The Role of Exercise Adherence
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Introduction. Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles remain pressing public health concerns. Innovative approaches, including digital training formats, may provide feasible alternatives to supervised exercise, but evidence comparing their effectiveness, and the role of adherence is still limited. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a ten-week combined training program delivered in two formats - supervised in-person and autonomous online - on physical and psychological outcomes. Secondary aims were to examine the influence of adherence and the interaction of formats. Methods. Twenty-five adults (15 female, 10 males; mean age 50.92 ± 10.47 years) completed the intervention. Participants self-selected into either the in-person group (n = 15) or the online group (n = 10). Core outcomes included muscular endurance (bench press, squats), and estimated VO2max. Older participants performed age-appropriate tests (chair stand, arm curl, 6MWT). Adherence was analyzed both continuously (%) and categorically (≥75% vs. <75%). Psychological outcomes were the state of momentary motivation (CRAVE) and the affective state (PANAS). Results. Significant improvements were observed before and after in bench press, squat, and VO2max (p < 0.05). Adults improved in all performance tests; older participants showed descriptive gains only in the chair stand variable (p < 0.04). Participants who completed the program (≥75%) achieved significantly greater improvements in VO2max. No significant differences were found between delivery formats, and psychological outcomes remained unchanged. Conclusions. A ten-week combined training program improved physical fitness in adults regardless of delivery format or baseline activity status. Adherence emerged as a critical determinant of cardiorespiratory gains. Psychological outcomes remained stable, suggesting longer interventions may be required to detect motivational and affective changes. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of both supervised and digital training formats and highlight the need for larger, longer-term studies.
Institution: Universidade do Porto
Language: Portuguese
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7154430426