Case Study: Fitness Apps

Well-being in Fitness Apps

Fitness - Positive Emotions - Self Efficacy - Hedonistic Behaviour - SEE - Joy - Positive Design - Negative Emotions

Investigating the Influence of Design to Prolong Positive Emotions and Prevent Hedonic Adaptation in Fitness Apps to Sustain Wellbeing.

Storytelling

Well-being in Fitness Apps

Corelates of Joy

The author addresses the significance of joy through a survey based on emotions, experiences, and challenges, with a special emphasis on documenting and learning emotional recognition.

The author designs UX features based on the survey results, focusing on the key features that elicit users' positive emotions. Regarding the features which elicit negative emotions, problem focused coping and avoidance were part of strategy to reduce negative emotions.

The author reuses the initial survey framework in her post-testing survey to evaluate how users feel after using the newly introduced UX features, namely, setting goals, progress records, optimizing appreciation, and plan flexibility.

Motivation

This study introduced design elements which facilitated motivations for joy, such as offering reminders of personal progress and unexpected achievements (greater self-awareness and gratitude), and capacities for flexible goal-setting (freedom).

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In the Image: Research survey result indicating users’ need for greater self-awareness followed by freedom and ability to experiment.

In the Image: Results of post-test survey about the design feature indicate that most users felt grateful about their abilities followed by feelings of inspiration and encouragement.

Integrity

This study introduced design elements which facilitated Integrity, such as setting personal goals which allows users to better understand their body and behavior (world-to-self) leading way to long-term sustenance (self-unity by consistency in commitment)

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In the Image: Research survey results about participants goals with fitness apps show that fitness scored the most followed by feeling better physically and emotionally along with finding joy and happiness.

In the Image: Design feature showcasing setting personal goals

In the Image: The post-test survey about the design feature indicates that most users felt confident about their abilities followed by intention to continue on the app.

Dependent

This study considered the joy experienced by users in a pessimistic scenario that they had to skip exercise due to reasons beyond their control by presenting unexpected achievements throughout their workout track history (evoking feelings of gratefulness). This dimention overlaps with M (Motivation).

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In the Image: Research survey results about decrease in participant’s positive experiences over time indicate mixed results with 30% (highest) of the participants in agreement with the statement.

In the Image: The post-test survey about the design feature indicates that most users felt that they could appreciate themselves better followed by intention to continue on the app.