The role of gamification and social support to improve food consumption and further engage with mobile apps
(2020)
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- Abstract
- The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of specific drivers - gamification and social support - in the engagement process toward healthy eating behaviors when using a mobile app. This paper reports findings from a first exploratory phase showing that social and emotional dimensions play an important role in the attempt to engage individuals toward healthy eating behaviors. Challenges, as mechanisms of gamification and social support, are highlighted as potential facilitators to reinforce those dimensions in the experience and to support the engagement process. Results from an experimental study confirm this positive effect of challenges as gamification mechanism on the engagement process. Surprisingly, the use of social support within an app does not show a significant positive effect on the engagement process or on the experience. This paper contributes, gradually, to a better theoretical understanding of the use of apps on sustained eating behavior change and suggests future research avenues to add relevant insights. Finally, concrete implications are suggested for public authorities and non-profit-making organizations to develop supportive interventions to counter obesity epidemic. Last, but not least, this research may contribute to individual strives in keeping one’s healthy decisions.
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Kullak, A., Charry, K., & Poncin, I. (2020). The role of gamification and social support to improve food consumption and further engage with mobile apps. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/119897