Smartphone Usage, Social Media Engagement, and Willingness to Participate in mHealth Weight Management Research Among African American Women
- 13 June 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Health Education & Behavior
- Vol. 45 (3), 315-322
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198117714020
Abstract
Background. African American women (AAW) are in a unique position to be recruited into mobile (mHealth) weight management research and programs due to their high rates of obesity and their high ownership of smartphones. Aim. This study examined smartphone usage, social media engagement, and willingness to participate in mHealth weight management among AAW in north-central Florida, United States. Methods. A self-administered survey was completed by a convenience sample of 425 smartphone owners in north-central Florida. Results. Mean age was 34.84 ± 13.74, with age distribution of 18 to 29 (45%), 30 to 50 (39%), and 51+ years (17%). Mean body mass index was 29.52 ± 8.18. Most used smartphones to access the Internet daily and were engaged with eight social media sites, such as Facebook (85%), YouTube (75%), and Google+ (57%). Compared to those 51+, those 18 to 29 were more likely to use YouTube (odds ratio [OR] = 2.52, p = .017) and Instagram (OR = 10.90, p < .0001), but they were less likely to use Google+ (OR = 0.40, p = .009). Compared to those 51+, those 30 to 50 were more likely to use Instagram (β = 1.28, OR = 3.61, p = .014) and Facebook (β = 1.04, OR = 2.84, p < .006). Most were willing to participate in research that used text messages (73%), smartwatches/fitness trackers (69%), and smartphone apps (68%). Compared to those 51+, women 18 to 29 were more likely to report willingness to use a smartphone app (OR = 5.45, p < .0001) as were those 30 to 50 (OR = 3.14, p < .0001). Conclusion. AAW’s high ownership of smartphones, use of mHealth apps and tools, and willingness to participate in mHealth research has the potential to curb the obesity epidemic by participating in mHealth weight management programs and research.Keywords
This publication has 42 references indexed in Scilit:
- A mobile health intervention for weight management among young adults: a pilot randomised controlled trialJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2013
- A New Dimension of Health Care: Systematic Review of the Uses, Benefits, and Limitations of Social Media for Health CommunicationJournal of Medical Internet Research, 2013
- Design and methodological considerations of an effectiveness trial of a computer-assisted intervention: An example from the NIDA Clinical Trials NetworkContemporary Clinical Trials, 2012
- Consumer views on the potential use of mobile phones for the delivery of weight-loss interventionsJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2011
- Social Influences Are Associated With BMI and Weight Loss Intentions in Young AdultsObesity, 2011
- Improving Weight Loss Outcomes of Community Interventions by Incorporating Behavioral StrategiesAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2010
- Feasibility of Using Computer-Tailored and Internet-Based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Underserved PopulationsTelemedicine and e-Health, 2010
- The Stigma of Obesity: A Review and UpdateObesity, 2009
- A Text Message–Based Intervention for Weight Loss: Randomized Controlled TrialJournal of Medical Internet Research, 2009
- Medicine 2.0: Social Networking, Collaboration, Participation, Apomediation, and OpennessJournal of Medical Internet Research, 2008