| Reference : Digital Inequalities in the Use of Self-Tracking Diet and Fitness Apps: Interview Stu... |
| Scientific journals : Article | |||
| Social & behavioral sciences, psychology : Sociology & social sciences | |||
| Computational Sciences | |||
| http://hdl.handle.net/10993/35572 | |||
| Digital Inequalities in the Use of Self-Tracking Diet and Fitness Apps: Interview Study on the Influence of Social, Economic, and Cultural Factors | |
| English | |
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) >] | |
| 2018 | |
| JMIR mHealth and uHealth | |
| JMIR Publications | |
| 6 | |
| 4 | |
| 1-13 | |
| Yes | |
| International | |
| 2291-5222 | |
| 2291-5222 | |
| [en] digital divide ; social networking ; diet | |
| [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. | |
| Métaprogramme DID’IT “Déterminants et Impact de la Diète, Interactions et Transitions” | |
| Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique’s (INRA) | |
| “Diet 3.0–Impacts of Digital Devices for a Better Diet” (288/MP-P10461) | |
| Researchers ; Professionals | |
| http://hdl.handle.net/10993/35572 | |
| 10.2196/mhealth.9189 | |
| http://mhealth.jmir.org/2018/4/e101/ |
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