Influence of Fitness Apps on Sports Habits, Satisfaction, and Intentions to Stay in Fitness Center Users: An Experimental Study

The use of technology in sports and fitness is proliferating thanks to advances to facilitate its practice and improve adherence. Beyond adherence, it is important that technology is understood as a facilitating medium. The main objective of this study is to know the influence of the use of the fitn...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Valcarce Torrente, Manel, Javaloyes, Vicente, Gallardo, Leonor, García Fernández, Jerónimo, Planas Anzano, Antoni
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
Repositorio:Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:archive.uax.com:20.500.12080/44994
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12080/44994
Access Level:acceso abierto
Descripción
Sumario:The use of technology in sports and fitness is proliferating thanks to advances to facilitate its practice and improve adherence. Beyond adherence, it is important that technology is understood as a facilitating medium. The main objective of this study is to know the influence of the use of the fitness application (app) on sports habits, customer satisfaction and maintenance intention of fitness center users. For this, an experimental, controlled and randomized study was carried out, characterized by being a field trial, with a sample of 66 participants divided into a control group (n = 33) and an experimental group (n = 33), with 38 (57.6%) men and 28 (42.4%) women who self-monitored their physical activity for 8 weeks. The dimensions analyzed between the pre- and post-intervention phases were the changes in their sporting habits (frequency of attendance and duration of the session), the changes in satisfaction and the intention to stay with respect to the fitness center. The results in general do not show significant differences between the two groups and conclude that the use of the fitness app did not directly influence the sports habits of the participants. There were also no significant differences in terms of satisfaction with the fitness center or in their intention to stay in the fitness center. Therefore, it is shown that the use of the fitness app, as a single download or use element, is not enough to improve habits, satisfaction or the intention to stay in the fitness center. Keywords: fitness app; satisfaction; loyalty; fitness industry; experimental study