| Abstract: Depression is a highly prevalent condition with proportionally higher rates shown among university students than the general population. Research supports that engaging in physical activity improves symptoms associated with depression. Self-management techniques offer an effective, economical approach to teaching individuals to engage in increased physical activity. This study evaluated the effects of a self-management treatment package (i.e., goal setting, self-monitoring, feedback) on walking behaviour for four adults with chronic depressive symptoms. The extent to which increased physical activity affects self-reported depressive symptoms and sleep duration and quality were examined. All data were collected using the Fitbit FlexTM. A changing-criterion design embedded within a concurrent multiple baseline across four participants design was used in which each successive criterion was increased above the mean performance frequency in the previous phase by a value between 5-15%. After a stable decrease in walking was observed during follow-up for one participant, the treatment package was re-implemented. Overall, the results demonstrate that the treatment package was efficacious at increasing walking across participants (i.e., 31% increase in average mean shift from baseline to treatment). Findings also suggest that increased walking may be associated with increased sleep duration. A blind clinician is analyzing collateral effects on depressive symptoms. |