User perception of health apps – an explorative study of identity and lifestyle construction processes

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Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Business | Master's thesis

Authors

Date

2019

Department

Johtamisen laitos

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Corporate Communication

Language

en

Pages

78

Series

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study is to explore the perception of health apps from a user perspective. For this reason, the study analyses how app users make sense of health app usage. The study approaches this topic from two different directions. On the one side, the study determines how health apps enable users to construct their self-identity. On the other side, the study investigates how health apps enable users to construct a healthier lifestyle. The study provides a qualitative content analysis of interviews with users of diet and physical activity apps. Consequently, the study reveals practical insights that are relevant to the research objective. The findings show that health apps support users to enhance their motives for identity construction in order to shape their self-identity. Moreover, the findings reveal that users have different attitudes towards the lifestyle construction process. These differences are determined by their perception of health and wellbeing. This study contributes to the existing literature in several ways. First, the study further explains the perception of health apps. Users perceive health apps as an instrument for the identity construction process, in particular for shaping the desired self-identity. Second, the study complements the existing lifestyle construction process literature. The study shows the practical influence of health apps on the lifestyle construction process. Health apps not only influence users’ behaviour, but also affect users’ cognitive thinking about health and wellbeing and their feeling about themselves. In addition to contributing to existing literature, the findings have a practical implication. The findings could help companies to improve the promotion of health apps and to attract potential users.

Description

Thesis advisor

Moisander, Johanna

Keywords

health apps, identity construction, lifestyle construction, motives for identity construction, health, wellbeing

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Citation

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202001121510

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[gradu] Kauppakorkeakoulu / BIZ