The impact of gamification on motivation and engagement in health and fitness applications.

Introduction

Gamification, the application of game design elements in non-game contexts, has gained traction in various fields, including health and fitness. This approach aims to enhance user motivation and engagement by making activities more enjoyable and rewarding. This synthesis explores the impact of gamification on motivation and engagement in health and fitness applications, drawing insights from multiple research studies.

Key Insights

Short-term Engagement through Extrinsic Rewards:
- Many e-Health applications and serious games yield short-term engagement primarily through extrinsic rewards like points and badges .
Mixed Impact on Intrinsic Motivation:
- While gamification supports behavior change and maintenance, it does not significantly alter intrinsic motivation .
Increased Motivation and Engagement:
- Gamified interventions generally increase motivation and engagement, particularly in physical activity and cognitive training contexts .
Positive Emotions as Mediators:
- Positive emotions such as interest and inspiration play a crucial role in mediating the effect of gamification on cognitive engagement.
Effectiveness in Health Behaviors:
- Gamification has a positive impact on health-related behaviors, although the evidence is mixed and often of moderate or lower quality .
Use of Wearable Devices:
- Combining gamification with wearable devices enhances physical activity behavior change, with common elements being goal-setting, progress bars, and feedback .
Challenges and Limitations:
- The effectiveness of gamification is often limited by methodological issues, such as a lack of well-controlled empirical studies and the need for more high-quality research .

Conclusion

Gamification in health and fitness applications generally enhances motivation and engagement, particularly through extrinsic rewards and positive emotional experiences. However, its impact on intrinsic motivation is less clear, and the quality of evidence varies. Combining gamification with wearable devices shows promise for promoting physical activity, but further high-quality research is needed to optimize these interventions.

The impact of gamification on motivation and engagement in health and fitness applications.

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

A systematic review of gamification in e-Health

Gamification in e-Health has potential for chronic disease rehabilitation, physical activity, and mental health, but current applications mostly yield short-term engagement through extrinsic rewards.

Understanding how Gamification Influences Behaviour in Social Marketing

Gamification supports behavior change and maintenance in physical activity, but does not significantly change intrinsic motivation over time.

The Effects of Gamification on Computerized Cognitive Training: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gamification in cognitive training tasks is effective in increasing motivation and engagement, but no significant effects on the training domain were found.

The Effects of mHealth-Based Gamification Interventions on Participation in Physical Activity: Systematic Review

Gamification interventions in mHealth can increase physical activity participation, but results are mixed and modest.

Gamification for health and wellbeing: A systematic review of the literature

Gamification can positively impact health and wellbeing, particularly for health behaviors, but mixed or neutral effects are observed in cognitive outcomes.

Gamification for physical activity behaviour change

Gamification techniques can increase motivation and engagement in physical activity behavior change by incorporating rewards, competition, consumer choice, tutorials, incremental challenges, and narrative.

Investigating the Direct Impact of a Gamified Versus Nongamified Well-Being Intervention: An Exploratory Experiment

Gamification in web-based mental health interventions can increase cognitive engagement and the combination of cognitive and affective engagement, with positive emotions playing a key role in mediating this effect.

Gamification in Healthcare: Motivating South Africans to Exercise

Gamification in healthcare programs can motivate South Africans to engage in exercise, but time constraints and knowledge of exercise benefits are not enough to engage in exercise.

Learning for a Healthier Lifestyle Through Gamification: A Case Study of Fitness Tracker Applications

Gamification in fitness tracker applications can enhance user engagement and motivation, leading to long-term healthier lifestyle habits.

The Effect of Gamification in Sport Applications

Gamification in sport applications positively impacts workout regularity and intensity, with progression-related game elements having the most positive impact.

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