Expanding the Technology Acceptance Model with the Inclusion of Trust, Social Influence, and Health Valuation to Determine the Predictors of German Users' Willingness to Continue using a Fitness App: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

• Published in: International journal of human-computer interaction Vol. 34; no. 9; pp. 882 - 893
• Main Authors: Beldad, Ardion D., Hegner, Sabrina M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norwood Taylor & Francis 02.09.2018; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc
• Subjects: Modelling; Multimedia computer applications; Norms; Physical fitness; Social norms; Structural equation modeling; Technology Acceptance Model; Technology utilization; Germany
• ISSN: 1044-7318; 1532-7590; 1044-7318
• DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2017.1403220

According to one market research, fitness or running apps are hugely popular in Germany. Such a trend prompts the question concerning the factors influencing German users' intention to continue using a specific fitness app. To address the research question, the expanded Technology Acceptance Model (with the addition of trust, social influence, and health valuation) was tested with 476 German users of fitness apps. Structural equation modeling results reveal that respondents' intention to continue using a specific fitness app is predicated on three factors, namely perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and injunctive social norm. Trust in the app developer and descriptive social norm do not have statistically significant effects on repeat usage intention, but they (alongside perceived ease of use and descriptive social norm) both influence users' perception of a fitness app's usefulness. Furthermore, ease of use and both injunctive and descriptive social norms significantly contribute to users' trust in a fitness app developer.