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Acceptance of Digital Sports: A Study Showing the Rising Acceptance of Digital Health Activities Due to the SARS-CoV-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Jacqueline Ruth

    (Department of Media and Information, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, 77652 Offenburg, Germany)

  • Steffen Willwacher

    (Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, 77652 Offenburg, Germany)

  • Oliver Korn

    (Affective & Cognitive Institute, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, 77652 Offenburg, Germany)

Abstract

In pandemic times, the possibilities for conventional sports activities are severely limited; many sports facilities are closed or can only be used with restrictions. To counteract this lack of health activities and social exchange, people are increasingly adopting new digital sports solutions—a behavior change that had already started with the trend towards fitness apps and activity trackers. Existing research suggests that digital solutions increase the motivation to move and stay active. This work further investigates the potentials of digital sports incorporating the dimensions gender and preference for team sports versus individual sports. The study focuses on potential users, who were mostly younger professionals and academics. The results show that the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on sports activity, particularly on persons preferring team sports. To compensate, most participants use more digital sports than before, and there is a positive correlation between the time spent physically active during the pandemic and the increase in motivation through digital sports. Nevertheless, there is still considerable skepticism regarding the potential of digital sports solutions to increase the motivation to do sports, increase performance, or raise a sense of team spirit when done in groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline Ruth & Steffen Willwacher & Oliver Korn, 2022. "Acceptance of Digital Sports: A Study Showing the Rising Acceptance of Digital Health Activities Due to the SARS-CoV-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:596-:d:718272
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    1. Salvador Angosto & Jerónimo García-Fernández & Moisés Grimaldi-Puyana, 2023. "A systematic review of intention to use fitness apps (2020–2023)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.

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