Author: Jasmine Petersen
Petersen, Jasmine, 2022 Promoting physical activity: The role of commercial physical activity apps and online social networking, Flinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
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Promoting engagement in physical activity is a public health priority. Commercial physical activity apps (e.g., Strava) present unparalleled opportunities to improve physical activity engagement, given they are highly accessible, convenient, cost-effective and afford widespread reach. Many of these apps also incorporate social networking functionalities (e.g., app communities, connections to existing social networking platforms such as Facebook, Instagram) that have the capacity to foster supportive interactions that are important to facilitating physical activity. There is a dearth of evidence regarding the capacity of commercial physical activity apps (and their social networking functionalities) to promote physical activity engagement. Therefore, the overarching aim of the present thesis was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the capacity of commercial physical activity apps (and their social networking functionalities) to support engagement in physical activity.
The program of research comprises five studies (four published, one currently under review). Study 1 was a systematic literature review, which synthesised the evidence on the effectiveness of physical activity apps and the additive value of existing social networking platforms. Overall, physical activity apps (largely developed for research purposes) were found to support improved physical activity engagement, and notably, existing social networking platforms demonstrated the potential to enhance the effectiveness of these apps.
Study 2 was a large cross-sectional study of adults (n = 1432) from the general population that evaluated the capacity of commercial physical activity apps (and their social networking functionalities) to support physical activity engagement. The use of commercial physical activity apps, along with app communities and existing social networking platforms, promoted higher physical activity engagement. In the same sample, Study 3 (n = 1274) aimed to determine how apps may support engagement in physical activity by examining associations with key psychological determinants of physical activity (i.e., social support, self-efficacy, and motivation). The findings indicated that commercial physical activity apps have the potential to facilitate social support, and are positively associated with autonomous types of motivation (intrinsic and identified) and beliefs in one's ability to perform physical activity (self-efficacy). Trait competitiveness, but not trait social comparison, moderated the relationship between app use and physical activity such that app users with higher trait competitiveness engaged in more physical activity. Sharing physical activity to existing social networking platforms supported physical activity engagement via positive associations with self-efficacy, and receiving encouragement via positive associations with both self-efficacy and autonomous types of motivation (identified regulation). Conversely, engagement in comparisons on existing social networking platforms was negatively associated with physical activity engagement via lower self-efficacy and higher external regulation.
Study 4 examined the longitudinal associations between the use of commercial physical activity apps (and their social networking functionalities), psychological constructs (social support, self-efficacy, and motivation), and physical activity engagement over a 6-month period, in a subsample of Study 2; n = 731. Commercial physical activity app use and sharing physical activity behaviour to existing social networking platforms were associated with higher levels of physical activity over that timeframe. In addition, social support, self-efficacy, identified regulation and introjected regulation emerged as positive predictors of longer-term physical activity.
Study 5 evaluated the capacity of commercial physical activity apps to support physical activity engagement during a pandemic in a subsample of Study 2 (n = 408). Psychological (social support, self-efficacy, motivations) and mental health predictors (depression, stress, anxiety) of physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown were also investigated. Commercial physical activity app use predicted physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown, as did social support, self-efficacy and identified regulation. Self-efficacy and identified regulation also mediated the positive relationship between app use and physical activity engagement.
Overall, the current program of research has progressed an important field, providing a novel insight into commercial physical activity apps (and their social networking functionalities). The findings provide evidence to indicate that commercial physical activity apps are beneficial in supporting physical activity engagement. The body of work is fundamental to informing the design and implementation of effective app-based physical activity interventions in future. This research, therefore, has significant implications for facilitating widespread improvements in physical activity engagement, and optimising population physical and mental health outcomes.
Keywords: Physical activity, apps, social networking
Subject: Public Health thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2022
School: College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Supervisor: Ivanka Prichard