Perceptions of physical activity leaderboards: A mixed methods analysis across two studies

Digital health tools to promote physical activity (PA) frequently incorporate leaderboards, to encourage PA by activating social comparison processes (i.e., self-evaluation relative to others). However, the acceptability and utility of leaderboards to the general population remain unclear.

Across two studies (Study 1: N=145 US young adults; Study 2: N=1,510 adults from Germany and Austria), participants evaluated two common leaderboard display formats and provided explanations for preferences. Participants also reported their PA motivation following exposure to fixed (Study 1) or randomized (Study 2) leaderboard placements. Open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis and sentiment analysis in Python.

Familiarity with leaderboards was low (Study 1: 43%; Study 2: 19%) and display preferences varied. Approximately 43-49% across both studies reported high PA motivation post-leaderboard exposure; both analytic methods showed that these participants subsequently expressed a range of perceptions of PA leaderboards (positive, negative, and neutral). Further, ∼21% of each sample reported low motivation for PA after exposure, yet their perceptions ranged from rejecting competitive comparisons to recognizing that leaderboards could benefit others. Sentiment analysis further revealed that participants who reported no display preference expressed the most negative sentiment, regardless of their motivation.

Findings demonstrate considerable heterogeneity in adults' perceptions of PA leaderboards, even among those who experience high motivation for PA following leaderboard exposure. Because a single ideal format may not meet all users' needs, personalized designs that account for individual factors may better support long-term engagement with digital health tools and sustained PA.