Enhancing Digital Health Engagement Among Asian Seniors: Investigating the Acceptance and Use of Fitness Apps in Promoting Healthy Aging

This study investigated how older Asian adults (aged 50+) accept fitness apps, focusing on experiential factors derived from the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI). Between December 2023 and March 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit older adults with three months of experience using fitness apps from social media platforms and community groups in multiple Asian countries. Of the 700 initial respondents, 587 valid questionnaires were retained (an 83.8% validity rate). Structural equation modeling (SEM) assessed relationships among relative advantages, compatibility, trialability, gamification, observability, perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived usefulness (PU), behavioral intention, and actual usage. Trialability, relative advantages, and compatibility significantly enhanced PEU (p < 0.01), while gamification and observability did not. By contrast, gamification and observability positively influenced PU (p < 0.05). Both PEU and PU in turn predicted behavioral intention, which explained actual app usage (p < 0.01). These findings underscore the importance of designing fitness apps that accommodate older adults’ skills and preferences, while also incorporating engaging features that reinforce perceived usefulness. Healthcare professionals and developers may leverage these insights to tailor digital health interventions, potentially improving exercise habits and well-being among aging populations in Asia.