Media Effects Research Lab - Research Archive
My fitness perception: User self-health and motivations and rationales for mobile health application
Student Researcher(s)
Elizabeth Brennan (Masters Candidate);
Elizabeth Eikey (Masters Candidate);
Siobhan McGroarty (Masters Candidate);
Faculty Supervisor
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a major problem in the U.S. To combat the obesity epidemic, many people are turning to mobile health apps. While mobile health apps are becoming increasingly popular, we know little about why people use them. In our study, we explore the motivations and rationales for mobile health app use.
RESEARCH QUESTION / HYPOTHESES:
H1: Individuals who possess higher self-efficacy will more likely possess a positive perception of self-health.
H2: Individuals who select mobile health apps for function and ease of use are more likely to have higher self-efficacy.
H3a: Those who have autonomous exercise motivations are more likely to use mobile health apps to track their diet and consumption habits.
H3b: Those who have autonomous exercise motivations are less likely to use the app to track their exercise behaviors.
H4: Those who select their mobile health apps for function reasons are less likely to have autonomous exercise motivations.
H5: Those who believe they are healthier than most people are more likely to feel badly when not using the mobile health app for a while.
H6: Individuals who consider themselves healthy are less likely to feel badly when they do not use the mobile health app for a while.
H7: Those with higher self-efficacy are less likely to feel negative emotions when they do not use the mobile health app for while.
RQ1: For mobile health app users, controlling for age and mobile health app usage, what is the relationship between age of mobile health app users and frequency of mobile health app use?
RQ2: For non-mobile health app users, controlling for age and mobile health app usage, what are the primary reasons individuals do not use mobile health apps?
RQ3: For mobile health app users, controlling for age and mobile health app usage, what mobile health apps are the most popular?
METHOD
Informed by self-efficacy theory, self-determination theory, uses and gratifications theory, and Abraham and Michie's (2008) taxonomy of behavior change techniques, we developed an online survey using Survey Monkey. Respondents consented to the research prior to participating. In total, 196 respondents completed the survey. If an individual indicated he or she had used mobile health apps, he or she was prompted to answer 53 questions. If an individual indicated that he or she had not used a mobile health app, he or she was prompted to answer 34 questions. Respondents who answered all 53 questions took approximately 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire; whereas, those who answered only 34 questions took approximately 10 minutes. Out of the 196 respondents, 119 (61%) respondents had used a mobile health app and 77 (39%) indicated they had not. The response rate for the survey was 97.5%.
RESULTS
We found a number of significant and interesting results, including three distinct motivations (consumption consciousness, exercise consciousness, and surveillance) and two distinct rationales (functionality and social connection) behind mobile health app usage. We found support for four of our hypotheses (H1, H3a, H4, and H6), partial support for two hypotheses (H5 and H7), and no support for two hypotheses (H2 and H3b). In regards to RQ1, we found users between 18 and 24 were more likely to use the app monthly and those between 25-34 were more likely to use the app weekly. We also obtained qualitative data for RQ2 and RQ3, which can lead to practical implications. In addition, we also found a relationship between how users perceive their weight and their motivations and rationales for mobile health app use. Overall, our study can be used as a platform for additional research in the important area of mobile health technology.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our exploratory study aimed to better understand user motivations for using mobile health apps. Through our survey, we found several significant and notable findings, which can be used in theory development and practical application. Scholars, marketers, and healthcare professionals can leverage our findings to begin designing better apps, targeting specific audiences, distributing health information better, and positively impacting users' health outcomes. In order to really impact the obesity epidemic, more research is needed. We urge others to use this work as a foundation to expand research in the growing area of mobile health apps.
For more details regarding the study contact
Dr. S. Shyam Sundar by e-mail at sss12@psu.edu or by telephone at (814) 865-2173