Paper Info
Title
Understanding persistence in the use of Online Fitness Communities: Comparing novice and experienced users.
Abstract
Mobile and wearable technologies facilitate physiological data collection for health and wellness purposes. Users typically access these data via Online Fitness Community (OFC) platforms (e.g., Fitbit, Strava, RunKeeper). These platforms present users with functionalities centered on self-monitoring, social networking and enjoyment. In order to fully benefit from these functionalities, users need to make a habit out of integrating OFC use into their everyday workout routines. However, research suggests that users often fail to use OFCs over a longer period of time. This study sheds light on the factors that explain persisted OFC use. To that end, the study compares novice and experienced users in terms of their OFC use motives and how these motives contribute to the habitual integration of OFCs into everyday workout routines. Based on the survey responses of 394 OFC users, a multi-sample structural equation model indicates that self-regulatory and social motives directly predict habitual OFC use, and that enjoyment and self-regulatory motives indirectly predict habitual OFC use, by driving the perceived usefulness of OFCs. Moderation analysis revealed that, for novice users, self-regulatory motives are the prime drivers of habitual OFC use, while social motives and enjoyment are more important for experienced users.
Year
DOI
Venue
2016
10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.013
Computers in Human Behavior
Keywords
Field
DocType
Wearables,Quantified self,User motives,Social media,Physical activity
Social psychology,Moderation,Social network,Social media,Structural equation modeling,Psychology,Behavior change methods,Wearable technology,Social support,Self-determination theory
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
64
C
0747-5632
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
6
0.51
10
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Jeroen Stragier1153.75
Mariek Vanden Abeele2304.15
Peter Mechant361.19
Lieven De Marez431132.22