Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to Investigate the Intention to Use Physical Activity Apps: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Di Liu,Ao Luo,Yuantao Hao,Remina Maimaitijiang,Jing Gu,Shuyi Zhong,Ziyue Wu,Mengping Zhou,Cong Lu

doi:10.2196/13127

Abstract

BackgroundMany university students are lacking adequate physical exercise and are failing to develop physical activity (PA) behaviors in China. PA app use could improve this situation.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to use the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to investigate the intention to use PA apps among university students in Guangzhou, China, and how body mass index (BMI) moderates the effects of UTAUT in explaining PA app use intention.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1704 university students from different universities in Guangzhou, China. The UTAUT model was used to measure the determinants of intention to use PA apps.ResultsOf the participants, 41.8% (611/1461) intended to use PA apps. All three UTAUT-related scales (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence) were positively associated with the intention to use PA apps after adjusting for background variables (adjusted odds ratio 1.10-1.31, P<.001). The performance expectancy scale had stronger associations with the intention to use PA apps among those whose BMI were beyond normal range compared with those whose BMI were within normal range (P<.001).ConclusionsUTAUT is useful for understanding university students’ intention to use PA apps. Potential moderating effects should be kept in mind when designing UTAUT-based interventions to improve PA via app use.

Highlights

Physical inactivity is one of the biggest public health issues of the 21st century and has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor of global mortality by the World Health Organization [1,2]
The 2014 National Physique Monitoring Bulletin released by the General Administration of Sport of China indicated that Chinese university student physical fitness has continued to decline [14]
Students who were female and from a capital city or municipality with monthly living expenses were over 1000 yuan and body mass index (BMI) beyond the normal range were more likely than others to intend to use physical activity (PA) apps (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Physical inactivity is one of the biggest public health issues of the 21st century and has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor of global mortality by the World Health Organization [1,2]. Physical inactivity can lead to a worsening health condition and deterioration of quality of life [3,4]. Several studies indicated an https://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/9/e13127 XSLFO RenderX. Despite the importance of regular PA, many university students are living in an environment with increased barriers to PA, resulting in a lack of adequate physical exercise and a failure to develop PA behaviors [10,11,12,13]. The 2014 National Physique Monitoring Bulletin released by the General Administration of Sport of China indicated that Chinese university student physical fitness has continued to decline [14]. Many university students are lacking adequate physical exercise and are failing to develop physical activity (PA) behaviors in China.

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion