Article (Scientific journals)
Digital Inequalities in the Use of Self-Tracking Diet and Fitness Apps: Interview Study on the Influence of Social, Economic, and Cultural Factors
Régnier, Faustine; Chauvel, Louis
2018In JMIR Mhealth and UHealth, 6 (4), p. 1-13
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Keywords :
digital divide; social networking; diet
Abstract :
[en] Background: Digital devices are driving economic and social transformations, but assessing the uses, perceptions, and impact of these new technologies on diet and physical activity remains a major societal challenge. Objective: We aimed to determine under which social, economic, and cultural conditions individuals in France were more likely to be actively invested in the use of self-tracking diet and fitness apps for better health behaviors. Methods: Existing users of 3 diet and fitness self-tracking apps (Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal, and sport apps) were recruited from 3 regions of France. We interviewed 79 individuals (Weight Watchers, n=37; MyFitnessPal, n=20; sport apps, n=22). In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with each participant, using open-ended questions about their use of diet and fitness apps. A triangulation of methods (content, textual, and quantitative analyses) was performed. Results: We found 3 clusters of interviewees who differed by social background and curative goal linked to use under constraint versus preventive goal linked to chosen use, and intensity of their self-quantification efforts and participation in social networks. Interviewees used the apps for a diversity of uses, including measurement, tracking, quantification, and participation in digital communities. A digital divide was highlighted, comprising a major social gap. Social conditions for appropriation of self-tracking devices included sociodemographic factors, life course stages, and cross-cutting factors of heterogeneity. Conclusions: Individuals from affluent or intermediate social milieus were most likely to use the apps and to participate in the associated online social networks. These interviewees also demonstrated a preventive approach to a healthy lifestyle. Individuals from lower milieus were more reluctant to use digital devices relating to diet and physical activity or to participate in self-quantification. The results of the study have major implications for public health: the digital self-quantification device is intrinsically less important than the way the individual uses it, in terms of adoption of successful health behaviors.
Research center :
Métaprogramme DID’IT “Déterminants et Impact de la Diète, Interactions et Transitions”
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Author, co-author :
Régnier, Faustine
Chauvel, Louis ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Digital Inequalities in the Use of Self-Tracking Diet and Fitness Apps: Interview Study on the Influence of Social, Economic, and Cultural Factors
Publication date :
2018
Journal title :
JMIR Mhealth and UHealth
ISSN :
2291-5222
Publisher :
JMIR Publications
Volume :
6
Issue :
4
Pages :
1-13
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Focus Area :
Computational Sciences
Name of the research project :
“Diet 3.0–Impacts of Digital Devices for a Better Diet” (288/MP-P10461)
Funders :
INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique [FR]
Available on ORBilu :
since 03 May 2018

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