Wearable Activity Trackers: A Structural Investigation into Acceptance and Goal Achievements of Generation Z

ABSTRACT

Background

Consumers are adopting wearable activity trackers to stay healthy and monitor their fitness progress.

Purpose

The study investigates the acceptance of WAT by Generation Z users and draws upon achievement goal theory by theorizing how and why consumers use WAT.

Methods

Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze intentions to use wearable activity tracker by Generation Z. Further, the study hypothesized relationships of motivational affordances – self-monitoring, rewards, social comparison on intentions to use WAT, and goal orientations’ moderating effect.

Results

The SEM results indicated that the structural model had satisfactory levels of fit indices: χ2/df = 2.651, CFI = 0.955, GFI = 0.817, NFI = 0.916, TLI = 0.935, AGFI = 0.931 and RMSEA = 0.064. The moderating effect of goal orientations for the intentions to use WAT was significant for some affordances.

Discussion

The study suggests Generation Z users show intentions to use WAT. Motivational affordances resulted in intentions to use WAT with moderating effect of some goal orientations impacting the intentions.

Translation to Health Education Practice

Self-tracking using wearable technology and personal health management is gaining importance.

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).