Effects of Technology Use on Self-Reported Physical Activity: A Behavioral Change Perspective

Previous research finds initial evidence that affordances of interactivity, agency, and modality can help increase physical activity (PA). However, the cross-sectional nature of these studies provides a snapshot of behavior but does not assess the impact of affordances of technology on change in PA behavior. In this study, we bridge this gap and test if features of technology that afford interactivity, agency, and choice of modality will be associated with an increase in PA across time. Guided by the Motivational Technology Model (MTM), we scraped 784 user profiles from the BodySpace App (a social weightlifting smartphone application) at baseline and after 70 days and establish the relationship between the use of features that afford interactivity, agency, and modality and behavioral change. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of technology features on changes in physical activity behavior using user data from the BodySpace App. The findings suggest that features that afford interactivity, agency, and modality are associated with an increase in physical activity. This study fills a gap in previous research and has important theoretical and methodological implications.