Mobile Health Supporting Physical Activity: A Grounded Theory

Background: Increasing physical activity (PA) has been indicated to substantially reduce excess weight issues and alleviate the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases, making it a crucial component of lifestyle interventions. Although numerous interventions have aimed to support behaviour change, PA is inherently complex and shaped by personal needs, habits, and social contexts, with long-term maintenance proving particularly challenging. Mobile health (mHealth) technology has emerged as a widely accessible, cost-effective means to promote PA and weight management. However, existing theoretical models lack specificity for mHealth-supported PA, particularly in relation to sustained engagement. Research question: (1) What are the nature and dynamics of people’s actions, meanings, and perspectives in using mHealth for PA? (2) How do people construct meaning related to their PA journey using mHealth within their social, interactional processes? Study design: The aim was to develop a substantive theory using grounded theory methodology with a constructivist theoretical stance which guided all sampling and analytical procedures, assisted by the software QSR-NVivo. Participants contributed 34 in-depth, semi-structured interviews (22 purposive and 12 theoretical sampling interviews). Findings: Through systematic coding, conceptualization, categorization, and constant comparison, four core categories emerged: evolving motivation, PA behavioural responses, mHealth behavioural intent and engagement, and social interaction and self-concept. These categories illustrate two layers of interdependency within the theory: (1) Social interaction and self-concept provide context for the cyclical journey through which individuals sustain their PA engagement with mHealth support; (2) People’s motivations evolve as they navigate changing PA behavioural responses, collectively interacting with their decision to adopt and engagement with mHealth technologies. Discussion and conclusion: The theory developed contributes to an interpretive framework grounded in real-world data, emphasizing the socially constructed nature of mHealth-supported PA. Its practical implications may inform the further development of mHealth programs designed to foster sustainable PA behaviours. Recommendations are proposed for diverse stakeholders: including individuals, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and technology designers. While promising, the theory’s applicability requires future testing to validate its relevance and efficacy across broader mHealth-supported PA experiences, and particularly within the cultural context of New Zealand.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Population Health

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Rui

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Day, Karen
• Honey, Michelle

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/74320

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/74320