Exploring the ineffectiveness of gamification health management: a U-shaped relationship between competition and technological exhaustion

Abstract

PurposeGamification design is considered an effective way of changing users' health behavior and improving their health management performance. Even though numerous studies have investigated the positive effect of gamification competition on users, little research has considered gamification's ineffectiveness and negative effects. In particular, how gamification competition affects users' technological exhaustion remains unclear.Design/methodology/approachAccording to flow theory and related research on gamification, this study discusses the nonlinear relationship between gamification competition and users' technological exhaustion. Furthermore, the authors analyze the moderating effect of user type (socializers and achievers) and users' health condition on this nonlinear relationship. Based on flow theory, the authors propose a series of research hypotheses. To test all research hypotheses, the authors collected information from 407 users via a questionnaire as the data for this study.FindingsThe empirical results found a U-shaped relationship between gamification competition and technological exhaustion. Technological exhaustion gradually decreases as competition increases until reaching the lowest point; after that, technological exhaustion gradually increases as competition increases. Further, being a socializer and health condition play a moderating role in the U-shaped relationship between competition and technological exhaustion.Originality/valueThis study's findings not only enrich the related research in flow theory and gamification, but also contribute to the effective design of gamification in health management platforms.

Motivation crowding effects on the intention for continued use of gamified fitness apps: a mixed-methods approach

“…Following these literatures, gamification in our research contexts refers to the incorporation of game design elements into the fitness apps while retaining its instrumental functions for promoting or supporting users’ physical activity/exercise. As an emerging design approach, gamification has attracted a large stream of researches in various contexts, including fitness/health/exercise ( Cheng, 2020 ; Whelan and Clohessy, 2020 ; Yang and Li, 2021 ; Li et al, 2023 ), education ( Sánchez Prieto et al, 2021 ; Behl et al, 2022 ; Chen and Liang, 2022 ; Ghai and Tandon, 2023 ; Oliveira et al, 2023 ; Zhang and Hasim, 2023 ), marketing ( Zhang et al, 2021 ; Wu and Santana, 2022 ), sustainable consumption ( Mulcahy et al, 2020 ), online community ( Xi and Hamari, 2019 ).…”

“…Gamified fitness apps have garnered attention from the academic community in recent years ( Cheng, 2020 ; Whelan and Clohessy, 2020 ; Yang and Li, 2021 ; Li et al, 2023 ). Current literature primarily focuses on the impact of gamification on individuals’ fitness outcomes.…”

“… Yang and Li (2021) indicate that competition and interactivity may lead to privacy invasion and social overload, resulting in exhaustion. Li et al (2023) discovered a U-shaped relationship between gamification competition and technological exhaustion. While these studies have confirmed the positive or negative effects of gamification on individuals’ fitness outcomes, the motivational factors for the continued use of gamified fitness apps have been seldom explored, even though such factors are essential for driving continued use in gamified apps ( Wolf et al, 2018 , 2020 ; Hassan et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Hence, understanding what and how various motivations drive continued use to gamified fitness apps could have theoretical implications for research and practical implications for fitness apps providers. Gamified fitness apps have garnered attention from the academic community in recent years (Cheng, 2020;Whelan and Clohessy, 2020;Yang and Li, 2021;Li et al, 2023). Current literature primarily focuses on the impact of gamification on individuals' fitness outcomes.…”