Effects of wearable technology on mental engagement and physical activity participation: self-regulatory motivation, attitude, flow, and dropout in new sport participation.
Park S, Yang H, Choi C, Bum C • Frontiers in public health • 2026
Wearable device usage among new sport participants was associated with higher intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, lower amotivation, higher flow states, and lower dropout compared to non-using, but data sharing functions may lead to negative experiences such as social comparison and psychological burden.
Key Findings
Results
Both wearable device usage groups (sharing-and-using and using-only) demonstrated higher intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and lower amotivation compared to the non-using group.
Study used a cross-sectional survey design with 226 new sport participants in South Korea
Participants were categorized into three groups: sharing-and-using, using-only, and non-using
Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) with post-hoc tests were conducted to assess group differences
Both wearable-using groups showed significantly higher intrinsic and extrinsic motivation compared to non-users
Both wearable-using groups showed significantly lower amotivation compared to non-users
Results
Wearable device usage groups showed higher perseverance, cognitive flow, and behavioral flow than the non-using group, but proactiveness showed no significant difference between groups.
Flow was measured across multiple dimensions including perseverance, cognitive flow, and behavioral flow
Both sharing-and-using and using-only groups outperformed the non-using group on perseverance, cognitive flow, and behavioral flow
Proactiveness did not differ significantly across any of the three groups
Analyses were conducted using multivariate analyses of variance with post-hoc tests
Results
Only the using-only group demonstrated significantly lower dropout levels than the non-using group, while the sharing-and-using group did not show a significant difference from non-users in dropout.
Dropout was assessed as an outcome variable across the three wearable device usage groups
The sharing-and-using group did not show significantly lower dropout compared to the non-using group
The using-only group showed significantly lower dropout than the non-using group
This suggests that the data sharing function may attenuate the dropout-reducing benefit of wearable devices
Discussion
Data sharing functionality of wearable devices may lead to negative psychological experiences such as social comparison and psychological burden among new sport participants.
The sharing-and-using group did not demonstrate the same dropout reduction benefit seen in the using-only group
Authors interpreted this pattern as evidence that sharing features could introduce social comparison dynamics
The authors noted that 'the data sharing function could lead to negative experiences, such as social comparison and psychological burden'
Findings suggest that the benefits of wearable devices may be moderated by how individuals use the sharing features
Conclusions
Tailored utilization strategies that consider individual user characteristics and exercise experience levels are recommended to maximize the effectiveness of wearable devices.
The differential findings between sharing-and-using and using-only groups motivated recommendations for personalized approaches
Authors emphasized that new sport participants may respond differently to wearable device features compared to experienced exercisers
The study specifically focused on new sport participants, a population described as underexplored in wearable technology research
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference; the authors noted the need for strategies tailored to 'individual user characteristics and exercise experience levels'
What This Means
This research suggests that using a wearable fitness device—like a smartwatch or activity tracker—may help people who are just starting to participate in sports stay more motivated and engaged. The study surveyed 226 new sport participants in South Korea and divided them into three groups: those who used a wearable device and shared their data with others, those who used a wearable device but kept their data private, and those who did not use a wearable device at all. Both groups that used wearable devices reported stronger motivation, better flow experiences (a state of being absorbed and engaged in an activity), and less indifference toward exercise compared to those who did not use any device.
However, an important distinction emerged around the data-sharing feature. Only the group that used the device without sharing data showed significantly lower dropout rates compared to non-users. The group that shared their data did not show this same dropout-reducing benefit. The researchers suggest this may be because sharing activity data with others can create social pressure and unwanted comparisons, which may undermine some of the psychological benefits that wearable devices can otherwise provide—particularly for beginners who may feel self-conscious about their performance.
This research suggests that wearable fitness technology can be a useful tool for helping people stick with new exercise habits, but that the social sharing features built into many of these devices may not be beneficial for everyone, especially newcomers to sport. The findings point to the importance of considering how people use these devices—not just whether they use them—and suggest that individuals new to exercise might benefit more from using wearable devices in a private mode rather than in a socially connected one. Because this was a cross-sectional study (a one-time survey snapshot), it cannot prove cause and effect, so further research would be needed to confirm these patterns over time.
Check Your Own Numbers
Upload your bloodwork. We'll cross-reference your results against this study and 4,700 others.
Park S, Yang H, Choi C, Bum C. (2026). Effects of wearable technology on mental engagement and physical activity participation: self-regulatory motivation, attitude, flow, and dropout in new sport participation.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1911509