Wellbeing in the Making: Peoples’ Experiences with Wearable Activity Trackers

Abstract

BackgroundWearable activity trackers have become a viable business opportunity. Nevertheless, research has raised concerns over their potentially detrimental effects on wellbeing. For example, a recent study found that while counting steps with a pedometer increased steps taken throughout the day, at the same time it decreased the enjoyment people derived from walking. This poses a serious threat to the incorporation of healthy routines into everyday life. Most studies aim at proving the effectiveness of activity trackers. In contrast, a wellbeing-oriented perspective calls for a deeper understanding of how trackers create and mediate meaningful experiences in everyday life.MethodsWe present a study of real life experiences with three wearable activity trackers: Fitbit, Jawbone Up and Nike + Fuelband. Using need fulfillment as a theoretical lens, we study recent, memorable experiences submitted by 133 users of activity trackers.ResultsWe reveal a two-dimensional structure of users’ experience driven by the needs of physical thriving or relatedness. Our qualitative findings further show a nuanced picture of the adoption of activity trackers and their impact on wellbeing. For instance, while reflection about own exercising practices lost its relevance over time, users continued to wear the tracker to document and collect their runs. More than just supporting behavioral change, we find trackers to provide multiple psychological benefits. For instance, they enhance feelings of autonomy as people gain more control about their exercising regime. Others experience relatedness, when family members purchase a tracker for relatives and join them in their efforts towards a better, healthier self.ConclusionsThe study highlights that activity trackers can be more than “tools” to change behavior. Through incorporation in daily life, they offer new social experiences, new ways of boosting our self-esteem and getting closer to our ideal selves.

Behavior Change with Fitness Technology in Sedentary Adults: A Review of the Evidence for Increasing Physical Activity

“…This issue should be investigated before concluding that people give up on their walking routines based only on monitoring software. While using fitness tracking technology can lead to increases in self-monitoring, this may lose relevance over time when people get similar amounts of activity each day (100). Fitness trackers have the potential, however, to increase feelings of control over one’s own exercise behaviors (100).…”

“…While using fitness tracking technology can lead to increases in self-monitoring, this may lose relevance over time when people get similar amounts of activity each day (100). Fitness trackers have the potential, however, to increase feelings of control over one’s own exercise behaviors (100). This could actually increase the likelihood of sustained behavior change, as feeling in control of exercise behaviors can increase feelings of self-efficacy – a key predictor of physical activity adherence (24).…”

Motivation and User Engagement in Fitness Tracking: Heuristics for Mobile Healthcare Wearables

“…Regardless, wearable devices and mobile apps have vast potential to enhance motivation and fun [27], and sustained engagement in everyday life [28]. In a recent study, [29] compared real-life experiences of 133 users of three popular wearable activity trackers: Fitbit, Jawbone Up and Nike+ Fuelband. Utilizing need fulfilment as a theoretical lens, the study revealed that UX is driven by the needs of physical thriving or relatedness.…”

Research Challenges of Emerging Technologies Supporting Life-Long Health and Wellbeing

“…In [42] authors identified five use cases for data from long term self-monitoring: (1) supporting health behavior, (2) improved health understanding, (3) identification of trends and relations, (4) making informed decisions, and (5) storing data for future use. Other researchers addressing long-term use of tracking point into similar directions [33,27].…”