Efficacy of a Smartphone System to Support Groups in Behavior Change Programs

Abstract

Smartphone platforms provide an excellent opportunity for projecting existing or new behavior-change methods into everyday life at great economies of scale. In this paper we present an experimental test of a new behavior-change smartphone platform and application called Fittle, which delivers ecological momentary interventions and group support to help people progressively master healthy habits. An 8-week field study involving 19 participants demonstrated the engagement and efficacy of Fittle across three classes of behavior (diet, physical activity, and stress-reduction). Individual adherence to the behavior programs was found to be associated with group membership. Content analysis of intragroup interactions suggests that high performance groups were generally more social, more supporting of each other on program goals, and shared more.