ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2025
Changing User Experience of Wearable Activity Monitors Over 7 Years: Repeat Cross-Sectional Survey Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Fitbit Ownership in the NIHInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Effect of Wearable Activity Tracker Social Behaviors on Physical Activity and Exercise Self-Efficacy: Real-World Pilot Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- How We Sleep, How We Move, How Long We Expect to Live: An Integrative Review of Lifestyle Behaviors and Subjective Life Expectancy.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Track more, drop less: dual dimensions of usefulness and configurational pathways to sport wearable usage intention for digital public health.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Using consumer sleep trackers for sleep extension interventions: retention, adherence, and user experiences.Sleep advances : a journal of the Sleep Research Society · 2026Article
- Acceptability and feasibility of fitness watches to monitor sleep and physical activity among women living with HIV: broadening the approach to optimizing cardiovascular health.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- User Experiences and Attitudes Toward Sharing Wearable Activity Tracker Data with Healthcare Providers: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLifestyle behaviors, including physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, poor sleep, and unhealthy diet, significantly impact global population health. Wearable activity trackers (WATs) have emerged as tools to enhance health behaviors; however, their effectiveness and continued use depend on their user experience.
objectiveThis study aims to explore changes in user experiences, preferences, and perceived impacts of WATs from 2016 to 2023.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey among an international cohort of adults (n=475, comprising 387 current and 88 former WAT users). Results were compared with a 2016 cross-sectional online survey (n=237, comprising 200 current and 37 former WAT users) using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The survey examined brand preference, feature usefulness, motivations, perceived health behavior change, social sharing behaviors, and technical issues.
resultsIn 2023, Apple (210/475, 44%) and Fitbit (101/475, 21%) were the most commonly used devices, compared with the 2016 survey where Fitbit (160/237, 68%) and Garmin devices (39/237, 17%) were most common. The median usage duration in 2023 was 18 months, significantly longer than the 7 months reported in 2016, with most users planning ongoing use. Users in both survey years reported greater improvements in physical activity than diet or sleep, despite lower improvement in physical activity in 2023 compared with 2016, contrasted with greater perceived improvements in diet and sleep. Social media sharing of WAT data notably rose to 73% (283/387) in 2023 from 35% (70/200) in 2016. However, reports of technical issues and discomfort increased, alongside a decrease in overall positive experiences. There was also a noticeable shift in discontinuation reasons, from having learned everything possible in 2016 to dissatisfaction in 2023.
conclusionsThe study highlights significant shifts in WAT usage, including extended use and evolving preferences for brands and features. The rise in social media sharing indicates a deeper integration of WATs into everyday life. However, user feedback points to a need for enhanced design and functionality despite technological progress. These findings illustrate WAT's potential in health promotion, emphasizing the need for user-focused design in diverse populations to fully realize their benefits in enhancing health behaviors.
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