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Associations Between Commercial App Use and Physical Activity: Cross-Sectional Study
Jasmine Maria Petersen1,2, Eva Kemps3, Lucy K Lewis1,2
1SHAPE Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|June 4, 2020
Summary
Commercial physical activity apps, especially those with social features like communities and social networking integration, significantly boost user engagement in physical activity. Key features include encouragement and competition within these digital platforms.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Commercial physical activity apps are widespread and have the potential to increase physical activity.
- Many apps include social features, such as app-specific communities or connections to social networking platforms.
- Understanding the effectiveness of these apps and their social components is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between using commercial physical activity apps and physical activity engagement.
- To explore the role of social components within these apps, specifically app-specific communities and social networking platforms.
- To identify specific features within these social components that are most effective in promoting physical activity.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional web-based survey was administered to 1432 adults.
- Participants reported on their physical activity levels, use of commercial physical activity apps, and engagement with app-specific communities and social networking platforms.
- Data analysis examined the associations between app usage, social features, and physical activity engagement.
Main Results:
- Over half of the participants (53.14%) used commercial physical activity apps, with Fitbit, Strava, and Garmin being most common.
- App usage was significantly associated with higher physical activity levels.
- App-specific communities and social networking platforms significantly enhanced physical activity engagement, with features like encouragement and competition being particularly effective.
Conclusions:
- App-specific communities and social networking platforms are vital components for facilitating physical activity.
- Commercial physical activity apps offer broad reach and significant potential for promoting physical activity, a key public health objective.
- Leveraging social features within these apps can effectively encourage greater participation in physical activity.
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