What Factors Affect a User’s Intention to Use Fitness Applications? The Moderating Effect of Health Status: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: Fitness applications are becoming a tool for users who want to exercise and diet. This study examines what factors affect users’ intention to use fitness applications and how they depend on users’ health status. METHODS: An online survey was conducted on 428 potential fitness application users from South Korea. For this study, the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) was applied, and structural equation models were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that for potential fitness application users, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, and perceived privacy protection were significant variables; however, social influence was insignificant. Factors influencing users’ intention to use fitness applications will vary depending on health status. CONCLUSION: This study provides the following implications for health researchers, fitness application designers, and marketers. When trying to use fitness application, values such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, and perceived privacy protection should be emphasized. In particular, for users with chronic diseases, the performance expectancy of fitness apps is more critical than any other factor.