Integrating Mobile Communication Technologies Into Public Health: Identifying the Motivational Factors of Health App Engagement

• In Event: Mobile Motivations

Abstract

In recent years, the spread of mobile communication devices such as smartphones has been markedly rapid. With this technological diffusion, mobile health (mHealth) has become an increasingly important issue. In particular, there is an increasing interest in smartphone apps improving public health. Although there is the increased availability of mobile devices and health apps, little is known about motivational factors predicting health app adoption and use. The aim of this study was to identify motivational factors that predict the adoption and use of health apps (i.e., health app engagement). To identify the motivational factors, 391 college students were surveyed and survey questions considered the effects of media exposure to health information, interpersonal communication on health issues and psychological factors (e.g., attitude, usefulness, peer norm, and self-efficacy) on health app engagement. The results and the implications to the findings are provided.

Authors

• Min-Woo Kwon, U of Wisconsin-Madison

• Kwansik Mun, University of Wisconsin_Madison

• Jonathan D'Angelo, U of Wisconsin

• Douglas M. McLeod, U of Wisconsin-Madison

• Jin Kyun Lee, Hongik U