Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Turkish Users’ Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Fitness Apps: The Roles of Utilitarian Value and Hedonic Value

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 637 - 658, 26.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1773732

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to elucidate the primary factors influencing users' continuance intention (COIN) of mobile fitness apps, with a focus on three utilitarian variables (perceived service quality [QUAL], monetary value [MVAL], convenience [CONV]) and four hedonic variables (adventure [ADVE], social [SOCI], gratification [GRAT] and idea [IDEA]). Data have been collected from 334 active Turkish users of mobile fitness apps, and structural equation modeling was employed to test the study's hypotheses rigorously. The findings reveal that three utilitarian value constructs (COIN, MVAL, and CONV) and four hedonic value dimensions (ADVE, SOCI, GRAT, IDEA) have a positive effect on users’ COIN. This research uniquely investigates users’ COINs in mobile fitness applications within the context of an emerging economy, leveraging user value constructs. Additionally, it elucidates the enhanced explanatory power of COIN through the integration of utilitarian and hedonic variables.

References

  • Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological bulletin, 103(3), 411. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411
  • Arnold, M. J., & Reynolds, K. E. (2003). Hedonic shopping motivations. Journal of retailing, 79(2), 77-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4359(03)00007-1
  • Babakus, E., Bienstock, C. C., & Van Scotter, J. R. (2004). Linking perceived quality and customer satisfaction to store traffic and revenue growth. Decision sciences, 35(4), 713-737. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.2004.02671.x
  • Babin, B. J., Darden, W. R., & Griffin, M. (1994). Work and/or fun: measuring hedonic and utilitarian shopping value. Journal of consumer research, 20(4), 644-656. https://doi.org/10.1086/209376
  • Bhattacherjee, A. (2001). Understanding information systems continuance: An expectation-confirmation model. MIS quarterly, 351-370. https://doi.org/10.2307/3250921
  • Brislin, R. W. (1970). Back-translation for cross-cultural research. Journal of cross-cultural psychology, 1(3), 185-216. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910457000100301
  • Carter, S., & Yeo, A. C. M. (2016). Mobile apps usage by Malaysian business undergraduates and postgraduates: Implications for consumer behaviour theory and marketing practice. Internet Research, 26(3), 733-757. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-10-2014-0273
  • Chandon, P., Wansink, B., & Laurent, G. (2000). A benefit congruency framework of sales promotion effectiveness. Journal of marketing, 64(4), 65-81. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.64.4.65.18071
  • Childers, T. L., Carr, C. L., Peck, J., & Carson, S. (2001). Hedonic and utilitarian motivations for online retail shopping behavior. Journal of retailing, 77(4), 511-535. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4359(01)00056-2
  • Chiu, C. M., Wang, E. T., Fang, Y. H., & Huang, H. Y. (2014). Understanding customers' repeat purchase intentions in B2C e‐commerce: the roles of utilitarian value, hedonic value and perceived risk. Information systems journal, 24(1), 85-114. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2012.00407.x
  • Chiu, W., & Cho, H. (2021). The role of technology readiness in individuals' intention to use health and fitness applications: a comparison between users and non-users. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 33(3), 807-825. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-09-2019-0534
  • Chiu, W., Cho, H., & Chi, C. G. (2021). Consumers' continuance intention to use fitness and health apps: an integration of the expectation–confirmation model and investment model. Information Technology & People, 34(3), 978-998. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-09-2019-0463
  • Cho, J. (2016). The impact of post-adoption beliefs on the continued use of health apps. International journal of medical informatics, 87, 75-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2015.12.016
  • Curry, D. (2025). Fitness app revenue and usage statistics 2025. https://www.businessofapps.com/data/fitness-app-market
  • Deng, Z., Lu, Y., Wei, K. K., & Zhang, J. (2010). Understanding customer satisfaction and loyalty: An empirical study of mobile instant messages in China. International journal of information management, 30(4), 289-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2009.10.001
  • Dhiman, N., Arora, N., Dogra, N., & Gupta, A. (2020). Consumer adoption of smartphone fitness apps: an extended UTAUT2 perspective. Journal of Indian Business Research, 12(3), 363-388. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIBR-05-2018-0158
  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of marketing research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
  • Geng, L., & Chang, Y. (2022). The effects of utilitarian value on omnichannel continuance intention: the moderating role of product involvement. Baltic Journal of Management, 17(4), 484-500. https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-09-2021-0332
  • Gupta, S., & Kim, H. W. (2007). The moderating effect of transaction experience on the decision calculus in on-line repurchase. International journal of electronic commerce, 12(1), 127-158. https://doi.org/10.2753/JEC1086-4415120105
  • Güngörmüş, H. A., Yumuk, E. D., & Gürbüz, B. (2023). Turkish adaptation of adventure behavior seeking scale: A validity and reliability study. The Online Journal of Recreation and Sports, 12(4), 617-623. https://doi.org/10.22282/tojras.1324081
  • Hair, J.F., Hult, G.T.M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.
  • Higgins, J. P. (2016). Smartphone applications for patients' health and fitness. The American journal of medicine, 129(1), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.05.038
  • Holbrook, M. B., & Hirschman, E. C. (1982). The experiential aspects of consumption: Consumer fantasies, feelings, and fun. Journal of consumer research, 9(2), 132-140. https://doi.org/10.1086/208906
  • Hong, J. C., Lin, P. H., & Hsieh, P. C. (2017). The effect of consumer innovativeness on perceived value and continuance intention to use smartwatch. Computers in Human Behavior, 67, 264-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.001
  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural equation modeling: a multidisciplinary journal, 6(1), 1-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
  • Huang, G., & Ren, Y. (2020). Linking technological functions of fitness mobile apps with continuance usage among Chinese users: Moderating role of exercise self-efficacy. Computers in Human Behavior, 103, 151-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.013
  • Kemp, S. (2024). Digital 2024: Turkey. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-turkey
  • Khaghani-Far, I., Nikitina, S., Baez, M., Taran, E. A., & Casati, F. (2016). Fitness applications for home-based training. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 15(4), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.1109/MPRV.2016.76
  • Krebs, P., & Duncan, D. T. (2015). Health app use among US mobile phone owners: a national survey. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(4), e4924. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.4924
  • Li, J., Liu, X., Ma, L., & Zhang, W. (2019). Users’ intention to continue using social fitness-tracking apps: expectation confirmation theory and social comparison theory perspective. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 44(3), 298-312. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538157.2018.1434179
  • Middelweerd, A., Mollee, J. S., van der Wal, C. N., Brug, J., & Te Velde, S. J. (2014). Apps to promote physical activity among adults: a review and content analysis. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 11, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-014-0097-9
  • Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric Theory. New York: McGraw Hill.
  • Ozen, H., & Kodaz, N. (2012). Utilitarian or hedonic? A cross cultural study in online shopping. Organizations and markets in emerging economies, 3(2), 80-90. https://doi.org/10.15388/omee.2012.3.2.14269
  • Ozturk, A. B., Bilgihan, A., Nusair, K., & Okumus, F. (2016a). What keeps the mobile hotel booking users loyal? Investigating the roles of self-efficacy, compatibility, perceived ease of use, and perceived convenience. International Journal of Information Management, 36(6), 1350-1359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.04.005
  • Ozturk, A. B., Nusair, K., Okumus, F., & Hua, N. (2016b). The role of utilitarian and hedonic values on users’ continued usage intention in a mobile hotel booking environment. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 57, 106-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2016.06.007
  • Parsons, A. G. (2002). Non‐functional motives for online shoppers: why we click. Journal of Consumer marketing, 19(5), 380-392. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760210437614
  • Pura, M. (2005). Linking perceived value and loyalty in location‐based mobile services. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 15(6), 509-538. https://doi.org/10.1108/09604520510634005
  • Sahin, I., & Guzel, F. O. (2009). Local culture experience and novelty seeking: a comparison on Istanbul and Antalya tourism destinations. Journal of Social Sciences, 4(1), 313-329. https://doi.org/10.20319/pijss.2018.41.313329
  • Shang, D., & Wu, W. (2017). Understanding mobile shopping consumers’ continuance intention. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 117(1), 213-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-02-2016-0052
  • Shin, D. H., & Kim, W. Y. (2008). Forecasting customer switching intention in mobile service: An exploratory study of predictive factors in mobile number portability. Technological forecasting and social change, 75(6), 854-874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2007.05.001
  • Sullivan, A. N., & Lachman, M. E. (2017). Behavior change with fitness technology in sedentary adults: a review of the evidence for increasing physical activity. Frontiers in public health, 4, 289. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00289
  • Sweeney, J. C., & Soutar, G. N. (2001). Consumer perceived value: The development of a multiple item scale. Journal of retailing, 77(2), 203-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4359(01)00041-0
  • Wei, J., Vinnikova, A., Lu, L., & Xu, J. (2021). Understanding and predicting the adoption of fitness mobile apps: evidence from China. Health communication, 36(8), 950-961. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1724637
  • Woodruff, R. B. (1997). Customer value: the next source for competitive advantage. Journal of the academy of marketing science, 25, 139-153. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02894350
  • Yang, S., Lu, Y., Chen, Y., & Gupta, S. (2015). Understanding consumers' mobile channel continuance: an empirical investigation of two fitness mechanisms. Behaviour & Information Technology, 34(12), 1135-1146. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2014.988176
  • Yuan, S., Ma, W., Kanthawala, S., & Peng, W. (2015). Keep using my health apps: Discover users' perception of health and fitness apps with the UTAUT2 model. Telemedicine and e-Health, 21(9), 735-741. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2014.0148
  • Zeithaml, V. A., Berry, L. L., & Parasuraman, A. (1996). The behavioral consequences of service quality. Journal of marketing, 60(2), 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299606000203
There are 47 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Sports Activity Management
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Görkem Erdoğan 0000-0002-2417-2718

Submission Date August 29, 2025
Acceptance Date October 17, 2025
Early Pub Date November 25, 2025
Publication Date December 26, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 16 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Erdoğan, G. (2025). Turkish Users’ Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Fitness Apps: The Roles of Utilitarian Value and Hedonic Value. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, 16(3), 637-658. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1773732