Factors affecting users’ stickiness of fitness apps: an empirical study based on the S-O-R perspective

Abstract

PurposeDespite fitness applications (apps) are increasingly downloaded by smartphone users in recent years, the usage behavior after initial adoption often lasts for a short period of time for most users. The purpose of this paper is to explore factors affecting stickiness of fitness app and then indicate how to retain existing users.Design/methodology/approachA research model was developed based on stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) model. Using the data collected from 231 fitness app users through an online survey, the established model was empirically assessed by structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe results show that human-to-information interaction and human-to-human interaction as environmental stimuli affect individuals' internal state, including social comparison and perception of fitness self-management, which consequently influence the stickiness of fitness apps.Originality/valueThe study provides new insights into the mechanism regarding why users are willing to continuously use fitness apps. Moreover, the understanding of social comparison among users in such process was also deepened.

Categorizing behavioral and formed concepts in sports marketing research

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Being there and being with them: the effects of visibility affordance of online short fitness video on users’ intention to cloud fitness

“…Although this model was developed in environmental psychology, many researchers have used this framework to examine individuals’ behavioral responses in different research areas such as store environment, online learning, online social networks, and online video watching ( Vieira, 2013 ; Zhai et al, 2020 ; Masrom et al, 2021 ; Wang and Yue, 2022 ). In the fields of online health and fitness, recent studies also utilizing the S-O-R theory have demonstrated the effect of platform characteristics as environmental stimuli on individuals’ internal reactions and consequent behavioral responses related to fitness applications and community ( Elsotouhy et al, 2022 ; Teng and Bao, 2022 ; Zhou et al, 2022 ). However, researchers have paid little attention to applying this framework in short fitness videos.…”

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