The Influence of Incentive-Based Mobile Fitness Apps on Users' Continuance Intention With Gender Moderation Effects: Quantitative and Qualitative Study
- PMID: 38837199
- PMCID: PMC11187517
- DOI: 10.2196/50957
The Influence of Incentive-Based Mobile Fitness Apps on Users' Continuance Intention With Gender Moderation Effects: Quantitative and Qualitative Study
Abstract
Background: A survey conducted by McKinsey & Company reported that, as of May 2022, as many as 26% of Indonesians had recently started to engage actively in physical activity, 32% undertook regular physical activity, and 9% exercised intensely. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has spurred the rapid development of mobile fitness apps (MFAs) used to track people's sports activities. However, public interest in using these apps for any length of time is still relatively low.
Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of incentives (eg, self-monitoring, social support, platform rewards, and external influence) on the use of MFAs and the moderating effect of gender on users' continuance usage intention.
Methods: The study used a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a web-based questionnaire and qualitative data from interviews with 30 respondents. The quantitative data, collected from 379 valid responses, were processed using covariance-based structural equation modeling. The qualitative data were processed using thematic analysis. The MFAs included in this research were those used as sports or physical activity trackers, such as Apple Fitness, Strava, Nike Run Club, and Fita.
Results: The results of the data analysis show that 3 groups of incentives, namely, self-monitoring, platform rewards, and external influence (with the exception of social support), affect the perceived usefulness of these apps. Gender was also shown to moderate user behavior in relation to physical activity. The study showed that women were more likely to be motivated to exercise by social and external factors, while men paid greater attention to the tracking features of the app and to challenges and rewards.
Conclusions: This research contributes to the field of health promotion by providing guidance for MFA developers.
Keywords: Indonesia; continuance usage intention; fitness; gender; incentive; mobile fitness apps; mobile phone.
©Aaya Faizah, Alifah Fatimah Azzahra Hardian, Rania Devina Nandini, Putu Wuri Handayani, Nabila Cyldea Harahap. Originally published in JMIR Human Factors (https://humanfactors.jmir.org), 05.06.2024.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflicts of Interest: None declared.
Similar articles
-
Determinants of Fitness App Usage and Moderating Impacts of Education-, Motivation-, and Gamification-Related App Features on Physical Activity Intentions: Cross-sectional Survey Study.J Med Internet Res. 2021 Jul 13;23(7):e26063. doi: 10.2196/26063. J Med Internet Res. 2021. PMID: 34255656 Free PMC article.
-
The Impact of Gamification-Induced Users' Feelings on the Continued Use of mHealth Apps: A Structural Equation Model With the Self-Determination Theory Approach.J Med Internet Res. 2021 Aug 12;23(8):e24546. doi: 10.2196/24546. J Med Internet Res. 2021. PMID: 34387550 Free PMC article.
-
Influence Mechanism of the Affordances of Chronic Disease Management Apps on Continuance Intention: Questionnaire Study.JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021 May 13;9(5):e21831. doi: 10.2196/21831. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021. PMID: 33983126 Free PMC article.
-
Evaluating the Impact of Physical Activity Apps and Wearables: Interdisciplinary Review.JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018 Mar 23;6(3):e58. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.9054. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018. PMID: 29572200 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Factors influencing user's adherence to physical activity applications: A scoping literature review and future directions.Int J Med Inform. 2020 Feb;134:104039. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.104039. Epub 2019 Dec 2. Int J Med Inform. 2020. PMID: 31865054
References
-
- Physical activity. World Health Organization. 2022. [2023-02-09]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity .
-
- The global status report on physical activity. World Health Organization. 2022. [2023-02-09]. https://tinyurl.com/mr3hnxnx .
-
- Global recommendations on physical activity for health. World Health Organization. [2023-03-10]. https://tinyurl.com/ymrcjnmk . - PubMed
-
- Consumer sentiment in Indonesia during the coronavirus crisis. McKinsey & Company. 2022. [2023-02-09]. https://tinyurl.com/84bhd2ub .
-
- Fitness apps- Indonesia. Statista. 2023. [2023-03-09]. https://tinyurl.com/4ary4us8 .
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources