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RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FAMILIARIZATION OF FITNESS APPS AND LIKELIHOOD OF USE AMONG COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS

Abstract

T. Cady, L. Tucker & N. Martin

Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA

PURPOSE: The overall goal of this study was to examine whether an increase in willingness to incorporate specific fitness apps into daily exercise patterns would increase following a two-week educational unit for college students currently enrolled in physical activity courses. The following hypothesis was developed: a willingness to incorporate fitness apps into daily exercise would increase significantly from pre to post-test. METHODS: Participants included 102 undergraduate students currently enrolled in a physical activity class at a small, liberal arts university in the Pacific Northwest. Participants consisted of freshman through graduating seniors, and were enrolled in a variety of activity courses including: personalized fitness program PE, co-ed volleyball, or pickleball. All participants completed the pre and post-test fitness app survey, as well as the two-week educational unit. To assess potential change following the two week duration, the pre and post-test surveys consisted of statements in which students responded to a 5 point Likert scale such as “is the app content what you expected”, “how well can the app be customized to the needs and interest of the user”, and “how willing are you to incorporate this app into your workout.” During the two-week educational unit students were instructed to download, encouraged to use, and required to evaluate and assess whether they would incorporate each of the five identified fitness apps into their daily exercise patterns. The five fitness apps were: 1) FitBit, 2) MapMyRun, 3) MyFitnessPal, 4) Nike Training Club, and 5) Jefit Workout. Pre to post-test change was analyzed using paired t-test with the significance value set at p <0.05. RESULTS: Paired t-tests were conducted to examine pre to post-test change in willingness to incorporate specific fitness apps into collegiate student’s daily exercise patterns. Paired t-test revealed significant differences between pre and post-test for all five apps; FitBit pre (.41 ± 1.12) and post-test (1.5 ± .99), MapMyRun pre (1.12 ± 1.79) and post-test (3.78 ± .77), MyFitnessPal pre (.86 ± 1.58) and post-test (4.35 ± .78), Nike Training Club pre (.65 ± 1.44) and post-test (4.48 ± .63), and JeFit pre (.02 ± .20) and post-test (2.09 ± .51). CONCLUSION: When provided access, instruction, and encouragement from their instructor students enjoy the use of fitness apps, find them useful, and are likely to incorporate apps to enhance their exercise experience. Details of student feedback relative to each fitness app will be provided in this presentation.

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