Social Cognitive Model of Exercise Behavior in the Context of Behavior Modeling in Fitness App

What is it about?

Video-based behavior modeling is a popular persuasive technique for motivating exercise behavior in fitness apps. Using push-up and squat exercise behavior models as a case study, we showed that perceived self-efficacy, followed by perceived social support and outcome expectations are the strongest determinants of exercise behaviors modeled in a fitness app. Comparatively, our model shows that perceived self-efficacy has a stronger direct effect on exercise behavior for males than for females. In contrast, perceived social support has a stronger direct effect on exercise behavior for females than for males. Based on these findings and qualitative analysis of participants’ comments, we provide a set of guidelines for the design of persuasive technologies for promoting regular exercise behavior.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show that, in fitness apps featuring behavior modeling as a persuasive technique for changing behavior, users' self-efficacy, followed by social support and outcome expectations can be targeted by designers to facilitate the performance of the target exercise behavior. Moreover, the findings indicate targeting self-efficacy and social support is most likely to be effective for males and females, respectively. With this paper, we have been able to show that exercise behavior modeling in fitness apps has the potential of motivating behavior performance.

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