Acceptability of Robotic-Assisted Exercise Coaching Among Diverse Youth: Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Human-Robot Interaction
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Most adolescents do not meet daily physical activity guidelines.
• Novel interventions are needed to increase adolescent physical activity.
• Robotic-assisted platforms offer an engaging digital strategy for physical activity promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess the acceptability of robotic-assisted exercise coaching in diverse youth.
• Explore demographic factors influencing acceptance of this technology.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study with a cross-sectional survey design.
• Recruited adolescents aged 12-17 years.
• Assessed technology acceptance using the Technology Acceptance Scale (TAS) after a robotic system demonstration.

Main Results:

• High overall acceptance of robotic exercise coaching (mean TAS score 32.8/40).
• 67.8% of participants indicated likelihood of using robots for exercise.
• No significant demographic associations with technology acceptance were found.

Conclusions:

• Robotic-assisted exercise coaching is likely acceptable across diverse adolescent populations.
• High receptivity suggests scalability for interventions.
• Future research should explore consumer preferences and intervention feasibility.