Actively Recruiting
Behavioral Economic Attributes of Recreation (BEAR): A Pilot Trial Within a Cohort
Led by Rush University Medical Center · Updated on 2026-03-20
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research investigates how behavioral risk factors like poor diet, lack of physical activity, and tobacco and alcohol use contribute to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and other cardiometabolic conditions. It focuses on understanding how adults value different rewarding activities and how increasing access to enjoyable recreation might reduce unhealthy behaviors. The study uses a pilot trial within a cohort design involving U.S. adults to explore the links between recreational activities, health behaviors, and cardiometabolic health scores. Participants will first join an observational cohort where their cardiometabolic health is assessed using the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) scoring system, which includes behavior and biomedical factors. Environmental access to various rewarding activities will be measured through home audits and ecological momentary assessments (EMA). A subset of participants will then be randomized to either continue observation or join a 6-month recreation-focused intervention promoting recreational activities to displace risk behaviors. The intervention includes coaching and financial support to encourage engagement in recreation. Throughout the study, participants will complete regular assessments including surveys and health measurements. Researchers will track changes in LE8 scores, demand for rewarding activities, and health behaviors. They will also evaluate feasibility measures like intervention uptake, acceptability, and recreation-related spending. The total study period includes initial assessment, a 6-month intervention for selected participants, and ongoing observation to understand the impact on cardiometabolic risk.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Behavioral Economic Attributes of Recreation
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18 years or older
- Fluent in English
- Lives within 10 miles of the study site
- Not planning to move outside the study region in the next 6 months
- Has a working Android or iOS mobile device for surveys and communication
- No apparent cognitive deficits affecting consent or study completion
- No uncontrolled serious mental illness in the past 6 months
- At least 75% adherence to initial survey participation
- Engages in recreation less than 4 times per week
- Life's Essential 8 score below 70
- No serious substance abuse problem except tobacco or cannabis
- Willing and able to try recreational activities for 6 months
You will not qualify if you...
- Plans to move outside the study area within 6 months
- Cognitive impairments affecting consent or study participation
- Uncontrolled serious mental illness recently requiring hospitalization or medication changes
- Serious substance abuse problem (score 27 or higher on ASSIST) except tobacco or cannabis
- Does not meet adherence or baseline data requirements for randomized trial
- Engages in recreation 4 or more times per week
- Life's Essential 8 score 70 or above
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 6 months
Participants in the Recreation Enhancement arm receive coaching and financial support focused on engaging in recreational activities that may displace cardiometabolic risk behaviors. Participants in the Continued Observation arm undergo regular assessment visits as part of the observational cohort.
Regular visits during the 6-month intervention period
Duration - Up to 6 months after treatment
Participants continue to be monitored for changes in cardiometabolic health and related behaviors following the intervention period.
Visits as scheduled for assessment
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
B
Bradley Appelhans, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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