Abstract
With the popularity of the health and wellness trend in recent years, smartphone fitness applications have become more and more popular. Thus, this study explored factors affecting the behavioral intention to use and the actual usage behavior of smartphone fitness apps from technical, health, and social perspectives by integrating the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). We examined whether perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use, social influence, self-efficacy, goal-setting, and self-monitoring predict usage behavior. Based on the survey responses of 1066 smartphone fitness apps users, we revealed that all of the variables, except for self-monitoring, significantly influence usage behavior, while behavioral intention acts as a total mediator between perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use and usage behavior. Drawing on the research findings, we suggest that influencing behavioral intention to use a fitness app can be an effective method to increase its adoption. Therefore, app developers need to pay attention to interventions that seek to enhance the usefulness of the app, provide professional counseling, as well as an opportunity for effortless goal setting features.
Highlights
IntroductionEmerging smartphone technology apps offer various capabilities and benefits for consumers and providers of behavioral health care
The global smartphone fitness application market has been growing at a rapid pace
The present study revealed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use significantly affect behavioral intention, which in turn affects usage behavior
Summary
Emerging smartphone technology apps offer various capabilities and benefits for consumers and providers of behavioral health care. These apps cover a wide array of areas including diet, exercise, weight loss, nutritional values, and vegetarian choices [1]. Being isolated may trigger fear and anxiety and cause stress in people. In light of the global pandemic, there will be substantial increases in anxiety, depression, and loneliness [2]. Self-isolation will negatively affect people’s physical activity levels, and increased screen time will impact physical health, well-being, sleeping patterns, and quality of life. Home-based activities that smartphone fitness applications offer provide an opportunity for people to stay fit and healthy by practicing movement while staying at home
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