Identifying the Antecedents of University Students’ Usage Behaviour of Fitness Apps

Jo-Hung Yu, Gordon Chih-Ming Ku, Yu-Chih Lo, Che-Hsiu Chen and Chin-Hsien Hsu
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Jo-Hung Yu: Department of Marine Leisure Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811213, Taiwan
Gordon Chih-Ming Ku: Department of Sport Management, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung 404401, Taiwan
Yu-Chih Lo: Department of Leisure Industry Management, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411030, Taiwan
Che-Hsiu Chen: Department of Sports Performance, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung 404401, Taiwan
Chin-Hsien Hsu: Department of Leisure Industry Management, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411030, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to explore the antecedents of university students’ fitness application usage behaviours by combining the theory of planned behaviour and the technology acceptance model. An anonymous questionnaire survey was adopted to address the objectives of the study. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to select eligible students from six universities in Zhanjiang City. An online survey was used to collect data from 634 eligible subjects, and partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse the collected data. The results indicated that the students’ perceived usefulness ( β = 0.17, p < 0.05) and perceived ease of use ( β = 0.32, p < 0.05) concerning the application and their attitude ( β = 0.31, p < 0.05) toward it significantly influenced their usage intentions. Furthermore, perceived usefulness ( β = 0.11, p < 0.05) and perceived ease of use ( β = 0.38, p < 0.05) fully mediated the relationship between subjective norms and usage intentions. However, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control did not enhance the students’ intentions to use fitness applications. That is, students’ attitudes and fitness application design are the determinants of usage intention. Accordingly, improving students’ fitness applications usage intention requires strategies that involve customised services, social networking, and collaboration with schools; this would further increase students’ engagement in physical exercise.

Keywords: behavioural model; fitness apps; partial least squares structural equation modelling; technology acceptance model; theory of planned behaviour; behavioural intentions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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