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Published on: March 7, 2019
How influencers motivate inactive adolescents to be more physically active: a mixed methods study.
Rahel Aschwanden1, Claude Messner1
1Department of Consumer Behavior, Institute of Marketing and Management, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Nonathletic social media influencers, like singers and journalists, are more effective at motivating adolescents towards physical activity than athletic influencers. Their relatable content and simple activities encourage greater engagement and enjoyment in exercise.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health Communication
Background:
- Low physical activity rates among adolescents in Switzerland (14%) fall short of WHO recommendations.
- Social media is a significant information source for adolescents, presenting an opportunity for health promotion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate which social media influencers and content types motivate adolescents towards physical activity.
- To assess the impact of influencers on adolescents' enjoyment and intention to engage in physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Convergent mixed methods approach using self-assessment questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
- 93 adolescents (aged 14-20) exercising <1 hour daily followed influencers on Instagram for 6 weeks.
- Quantitative data on enjoyment, stages of change, and physical activity; qualitative data from interviews with adolescents and influencers.
Main Results:
- Adolescent followers reported increased enjoyment and progressed through stages of change post-intervention.
- Followers of nonathletic influencers (singer, journalist, eFootballer) showed greater increases in physical activity compared to followers of athletic influencers.
- Relatable influencer lifestyles, simple activities, and authentic content positively influenced exercise, especially for already motivated adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Nonathletic influencers are unexpectedly effective in promoting physical activity among adolescents due to their relatable content and lifestyle.
- Future health campaigns could leverage nonathletic influencers to engage inactive adolescent populations.
- Authenticity and simplicity in content are key factors for successful social media-based physical activity interventions.
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