Recruiting

Digital Intervention

Sponsor:

Auburn University

Code:

NCT07130734

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Anxiety

Stress

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19 - 40

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Digital Physical Activity

Study Details

Brief summary:

The present study will assess the effects of a four-week digitally delivered intervention on physical activity and depressive symptoms among adults experiencing at least moderate depressive symptoms. The main questions this research aims to answer are:

  • Does a digitally-delivered intervention increase physical activity levels?
  • Does a digitally-delivered intervention reduce symptoms of depression?

Researchers will compare an intervention promoting physical activity to a passive control (does not receive the intervention) group to see if the intervention reduces depressive symptoms and increases physical activity levels.

Participants will:

  • Visit the laboratory at two separate time points before group assignment, separated by one week of physical activity monitoring
  • Be randomly assigned to complete four weeks of a digital intervention prompting engagement in physical activity or have their mental health symptoms monitored over four weeks (i.e., passive control group)
  • Visit the laboratory at two separate time points after the intervention, separated by one week of physical activity monitoring

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Anxiety

Stress

Study ID

NCT07130734

Start date

Sep 22, 2025

Status verified date

Sep, 2025

Completion date

May, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19 - 40

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Study Design

Enrollment

50 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Digital Intervention Group

Participants allocated to this group will be instructed to download a Pathverse mobile application on their Apple or Android smartphone device. The Pathverse mobile application will be used to send participants daily push notifications to engage in physical activity of their choice. During on-boarding at pre-intervention, each participant will choose approximately five types of physical activity they find enjoyable that they would like to engage in throughout the four-week intervention. They will report on the physical activity they completed, along with the duration and intensity of each activity. Participants will have the choice of when they would like to receive their daily notifications on their smartphone device.

no intervention: Passive Control Group

Participants will be informed that their mental health will be monitored over four weeks as a control condition. After the study, they will be offered the digital PA intervention, if desired.

Interventions

Digital Physical Activity

The Pathverse mobile application platform will be downloaded on each participant's smartphone. Participants will be guided on how to download and use the application, as well as how to interact with the application during the intervention period. Participants will choose approximately five types of physical activity they enjoy before the intervention and will be prompted to complete these physical activities throughout the intervention. Participants will also self-report the duration and type of physical activity performed each day of the intervention.

Primary outcome measure

  • Depressive Symptoms [ Time Frame: pre-intervention, at the two-week time point during the intervention, and immediately after the intervention ]
  • Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [ Time Frame: pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Christopher J Brush, Ph.D.

334-844-4483cjbrush@auburn.edu

Karly A Knudson, B.S.

kak0146@auburn.edu

Locations

Kinesiology Building

Recruiting

Auburn, Alabama, United States, 36849

Contacts

Administrator, Business & Admin Services School of Kinesiology

334-844-1450lse0001@auburn.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Auburn University

Last update posted

Sep 18, 2025

Last verified

Sep, 2025

Keywords

  • Physical Activity
  • Digital Intervention
  • Depression
  • Mobile Application

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-16. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Auburn University on 2025-09-18. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.