Value of normative belief in intention to use workplace health promotion apps

Mobile applications (apps) have started to be used for workplace health promotion (WHP). However, the factors that lead to the usage of apps in the workplace from the end-user perspective remain unclear.

To investigate the research gap, the study evaluates a model for the adoption of WHP apps by combining the theory of planned behavior, the health belief model, and the technology acceptance model. A self-administered questionnaire with validated scales among 354 participants was used to evaluate the proposed model for WHP.

Although the study indicated a limited overall model fit, interesting aspects were derived. In particular, the study demonstrated that normative belief (especially), perceived usefulness, and attitudinal belief play important roles in the intention to use WHP apps.

The study is among the first to validate the theoretical models of mHealth adoption for WHP. Moreover, it shows that not only normative belief but also adjustment to several target groups is a necessary factor to be considered in the development and implementation of an app for WHP.