Sport fans in a “smart sport” (SS) age: drivers of smartphone use for sport consumption

Abstract

Purpose With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphones, it has become one of the most important medium to increase sport fan engagement. However, very little attention has been paid to understand how fans use smartphones to follow sport. With that in mind, the purpose of this paper is to investigate specific factors that influence the use of smartphones in the sport consumption context. Design/methodology/approach This research empirically examined theoretical relationships between three categories of variables (perceptions toward smartphones, sport-specific factors, and smartphone-specific factors) and intention to use the smartphone in following sports. Findings Of the 11 proposed hypotheses, eight hypotheses were supported. Approximately 79.4 percent of variance in the usage intention was explained by the three categories of the variables. Originality/value As one of the first to take a holistic approach toward understanding sport consumption behaviors using smartphones, results of the current research can be employed as a base for studies examining other multi-functional technology medium in various sport settings.

The Promotion of Physical Activity from Digital Services: Influence of E-Lifestyles on Intention to Use Fitness Apps

“…These results have contributed to a gap that existed in the academic literature on the history of the use of fitness Apps. In fact, authors such as Ha et al [ 50 ] showed that there were no research works that had investigated the factors or behaviors that conducted sports consumers to use sports Apps. Thus, as with previous authors [ 27 , 37 , 57 ], this study’s findings have shown that the use intentions of fitness Apps could be conditioned initially by e-lifestyles and that perceived ease of use and the perceived usefulness would mediate the attitudes and intentions of using Fitness Apps.…”

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“…Finally, the model has been influenced by other external variables, such as social norms [ 49 ], health awareness [ 54 ], commitment to or participation in sport [ 50 ], and entertainment [ 55 ], and sociodemographic variables, such as gender, age, or frequency of use [ 53 ]. In this way, research with TAM has determined that PEU and PU are influenced by different external variables.…”

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