Further engaging consumers in healthy behaviors with mobile applications : essays on supporting and hindering processes
(2021)
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- Abstract
- This doctoral dissertation, built on four essays that combine quantitative and qualitative research methods, aims to better understand the process of engagement—the process by which people continue to invest efforts—in healthy behaviors using certain technologies, such as mobile health apps. The first essay aids understanding of the barriers and incentives within the engagement process regarding healthy behaviors and explores the potential influence of technologies on engagement in healthy behaviors. The second essay shows the effectiveness of a specific design element of mobile health apps, i.e., a challenge as gamification mechanic, to further investigate both how to engage users and the underlying process of engagement in different contexts associated with health issues. The third essay further examines various user profiles, focusing on users’ current stages of change in the behavior change process, as well as the influences of the latter in the engagement process. The fourth essay aims to provide a 360-degree perspective on health apps, adding the potential negative effects of a design element—an online community of users—to the positive dimensions that are usually considered in the literature. This paper examines how online communities that potentially activate social comparisons and tie strength perceptions may impact the effectiveness of a fitness application in supporting its users’ behavioral changes. Therefore, this doctoral dissertation contributes to the literature on mobile health apps by offering a better understanding of their ability to further engage users in healthy behaviors. It underlies the user engagement process to gain insights into the effectiveness of health apps as an intervention mechanism in addressing health issues. Specifically, this research provides theoretical insights into the design elements that facilitate or hinder users’ engagement with health apps. This research also contributes from a managerial perspective by guiding field actors involved in healthy behaviors and offering concrete solutions for achieving their objectives. It also provides guidelines for improving the design of health apps and rendering them more engaging, thus enabling the effective support of consumers in their journey toward a healthier lifestyle, something which is favorable for them and society.
- Affiliations
UCLouvain SSH/LouRIM - Louvain Research Institute in Management and Organizations
Citations
Kullak, A. (2021). Further engaging consumers in healthy behaviors with mobile applications : essays on supporting and hindering processes. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/106831