Mediating social support through sensor-based
technologies for children’s health behavior change
Dublin Core
Title
Mediating social support through sensor-based
technologies for children’s health behavior change
technologies for children’s health behavior change
Subject
social support, sensor-based technologies, children, avatars and agents, health
Description
Sensor-based technologies (SBTs) allow users to track biometric data and feature interactions that foster social support. The social support from
SBTs can increase intrinsic motivation to engage in and sustain positive health behaviors. Guided by technological affordances and
self-determination theory, this study tested the long-term efficacy of an ecosystem of SBTs to strengthen social support for children’s behavior
change, children’s perceived relatedness, and positive physical activity (PA) attitudes. This ecosystem integrated Fitbits tracking each child’s PA,
kiosks with virtual agents that synced with Fitbit data, and a messaging system for parents and children. Afterschool programs (N 1⁄4 19) were
randomly set with this ecosystem or a Fitbit with a computer for 6 months. Results suggested that parents of girls provided more social support
to children via the ecosystem than parents of boys. Children’s perceived support from the virtual agent was positively associated with perceived
relatedness and PA attitudes over time.
SBTs can increase intrinsic motivation to engage in and sustain positive health behaviors. Guided by technological affordances and
self-determination theory, this study tested the long-term efficacy of an ecosystem of SBTs to strengthen social support for children’s behavior
change, children’s perceived relatedness, and positive physical activity (PA) attitudes. This ecosystem integrated Fitbits tracking each child’s PA,
kiosks with virtual agents that synced with Fitbit data, and a messaging system for parents and children. Afterschool programs (N 1⁄4 19) were
randomly set with this ecosystem or a Fitbit with a computer for 6 months. Results suggested that parents of girls provided more social support
to children via the ecosystem than parents of boys. Children’s perceived support from the virtual agent was positively associated with perceived
relatedness and PA attitudes over time.
Creator
Joshua Baldwin 1
, Joomi Lee 2
, Allan D. Tate3
, Christian D. Okitondo3
, Kyle Johnsen4
,
Michael D. Schmidt5
, Stephen Rathbun3
, Eric Novotny6
, Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn1,*
, Joomi Lee 2
, Allan D. Tate3
, Christian D. Okitondo3
, Kyle Johnsen4
,
Michael D. Schmidt5
, Stephen Rathbun3
, Eric Novotny6
, Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn1,*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmad011
Publisher
by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association.
Date
29 March 2023
Contributor
PERI IRAWAN
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Collection
Citation
Joshua Baldwin 1
, Joomi Lee 2
, Allan D. Tate3
, Christian D. Okitondo3
, Kyle Johnsen4
,
Michael D. Schmidt5
, Stephen Rathbun3
, Eric Novotny6
, Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn1,*, “Mediating social support through sensor-based
technologies for children’s health behavior change,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed May 21, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/8727.
technologies for children’s health behavior change,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed May 21, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/8727.