Investigating Rewards and Deposit Contract Financial Incentives for Physical Activity Behavior Change Using a Smartphone App: Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Journal of medical Internet research Vol. 24; no. 10; p. e38339
• Main Authors: de Buisonjé, David R, Reijnders, Thomas, Cohen Rodrigues, Talia R, Prabhakaran, Santhanam, Kowatsch, Tobias, Lipman, Stefan A, Bijmolt, Tammo H A, Breeman, Linda D, Janssen, Veronica R, Kraaijenhagen, Roderik A, Kemps, Hareld M C, Evers, Andrea W M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Journal of Medical Internet Research 06.10.2022; Gunther Eysenbach MD MPH, Associate Professor; JMIR Publications
• Subjects: Adult; Aerobics; Analysis of covariance; Averages; Behavior change; Behavioral economics; Between-subjects design; Bias; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Contracts; Decision making; Earnings; Economic incentives; Exercise; Financial incentives; Frame analysis; Health behavior; Humans; Incentives; Intervention; Investigations; Mobile Applications; Monetary incentives; Money; Motivation; Motor Activity; Objectives; Original Paper; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Reward; Rewards; Smartphones; Statistical power; Time use; Uptake; Young Adult; United States > US; mobile phone; reward learning; deposit contracts; behavior change; commitment contracts; eHealth; rewards; financial incentives; physical activity

Financial incentive interventions for improving physical activity have proven to be effective but costly. Deposit contracts (in which participants pledge their own money) could be an affordable alternative. In addition, deposit contracts may have superior effects by exploiting the power of loss aver...