Does Online Social Connectivity Promote Physical Activity in a Wearable Tracker-Based Intervention? A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Myong-Won Seo,Youngdeok Kim,Hyun Chul Jung,Jung-Hyun Kim,Jung-Min Lee

doi:10.3390/su12218803

Myong-Won Seo, Youngdeok Kim + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218803

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Abstract

Wearable activity trackers have gained popularity among individuals who want to track their physical activity (PA). The features of wearable tracking technology that are known to facilitate positive behavior changes such as self-monitoring and social connectedness) are well documented; yet, the existing evidence is not conclusive in the literature requiring further investigation. This study was an 8-week pilot randomized controlled study examining the effectiveness of PA intervention incorporating a wearable activity tracker’s online connectivity feature. Forty participants were equally randomized into either an individual-based (n = 20) or a connected group (n = 20). A Jawbone UP24 tracker was provided to all participants in both groups as a means of self-monitoring PA for eight weeks, but the connected group was additionally instructed to share their PA levels with the others using the accompanying smartphone application. Participants’ weekly step counts were evaluated each week to examine the change in PA. Participants’ biometric variables such as body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and psychological status, including self-efficacy (SE) and exercise motivation (EM), were measured from both groups before and after the intervention period. Additionally, the social support questionnaire (SSQ) was measured among the connected group. The statistical significance level was set at <0.05. The average step counts for eight weeks were significantly increased only in the connected group (p < 0.001). Significant differences in step count improved from the baseline to week 8 in the connected user group (p < 0.01), but only baseline vs. week 7 in the individual users. Also, no significant interaction effects for biometric variables, EM, and SE were founded. However, SSQ was significantly improved in the connected user group (p < 0.001). PA intervention combining a wearable activity tracker and online social connectivity feature shows a greater effectiveness of promoting PA than a wearable tracker alone

Highlights

Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with improved health, reduced chronic disease rates, and increases in overall quality of life [1]
The participants were randomly assigned to either the individual or connected groups and provided with a Jawbone UP24 tracker worn on their non-dominant wrist for PA monitoring during all hours spent walking over 8 weeks, not including water activities
We found that connected users increased the number of average steps taken, where no significant change was observed in individual users

Summary

Introduction

Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with improved health, reduced chronic disease rates, and increases in overall quality of life [1]. An increased sedentary lifestyle has become a public health concern as one of the risk factors for various chronic diseases. This concern has brought about a tremendous volume of research and policy activity devoted to investigating and promoting PA [4]. The wearable activity tracker market is overgrowing, and tracking daily PA is becoming popular among the general public [6,7,8]. A growing number of companies and fitness facilities have adopted wearable activity trackers to promote employee wellness or to track clients’ PA [9]. As the advanced technology of wearable trackers has introduced, researchers have begun to apply wearable trackers into PA-related intervention studies, with results indicating that they are a promising technology for promoting healthy behaviors [10,11,12]

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