Lifestyle E-Coaching for Physical Activity Level Improvement: Short-Term and Long-Term Effectivity in Low Socioeconomic Status Groups

Hanne Spelt, Thomas Tsiampalis, Pania Karnaki, Matina Kouvari, Dina Zota, Athena Linos and Joyce Westerink
Additional contact information
Hanne Spelt: Philips Research, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Thomas Tsiampalis: The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 151 25 Athens, Greece
Pania Karnaki: The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 151 25 Athens, Greece
Matina Kouvari: The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 151 25 Athens, Greece
Dina Zota: The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 151 25 Athens, Greece
Athena Linos: The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 151 25 Athens, Greece
Joyce Westerink: Philips Research, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-20

Abstract: E-coaching applications can improve people’s lifestyles; however, their impact on people from a lower socioeconomic status (low SES) is unknown. This study investigated the effectiveness of a lifestyle e-coaching application in encouraging people facing low SES disadvantages to engage in a more active lifestyle over a course of 19 weeks. In this bicountry study, 95 people with low activity level (GR: 50, NL: 45) used a mobile application linked to a wearable activity tracker. At the start and after 6 and 19 weeks, self-reported physical activity levels, attitudes, and intention towards increasing activity levels, perceived behavioral control, and wellbeing were measured. Results indicated that participants using the lifestyle e-coaching application reported significantly more often an increase in activity levels than a parallel control group. Additionally, the people using the application also more often reported increased levels of wellbeing and perceived behavioral control. Therefore, lifestyle e-coaching applications could be a cost-effective solution for promoting healthier lifestyles in low-SES populations.

Keywords: lifestyle e-coaching; physical activity improvement; socioeconomic status (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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