Digital Coaching Motivating Young Elderly People towards Physical Activity

Eeva Kettunen, Tuomas Kari and Lauri Frank
Additional contact information
Eeva Kettunen: Faculty of Information Technology, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
Tuomas Kari: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Lauri Frank: Faculty of Information Technology, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: The share of the elderly population is increasing globally, and it is important to help them to maintain their physical activity levels and ability to function to as late an age as possible. This qualitative intervention study focused on the experiences of young elderly on the ability of a sport and wellness technology digital coach to motivate them towards physical activity as well as on what needs and wishes this group has concerning digital coaching solutions. The findings of the study show that young elderly perceive digital coaching as potential in motivating them towards physical activity by providing instructive information and motivational feedback. It was also perceived to have positive influence on their exercise self-efficacy. However, it was also apparent that digital coaching devices should be tailored for this target group and be easy to learn in order to attract interest among them. Our findings provide insights for professionals and companies in sport technology field as well as to health professionals working in health promotion with young elderly people. Overall, this research aims to address social and economical sustainability of elderly people and their physical activity.

Keywords: digital coaching; exercise psychology; motivation; self-efficacy; sport technology; young elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7718/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7718/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7718-:d:846944

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().