The Effect of Engagement in Digital Health Challenges and Gamification Features of Applications on Increasing Physical Activity Among Millennials in Jakarta
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58812/wsshs.v3i09.2227Keywords:
Digital Health, Gamification, Physical Activity, Millennials, JakartaAbstract
This study investigates the impact of participation in digital health challenges and the gamification features of mobile applications on increasing physical activity among millennials in Jakarta. With the rapid adoption of digital health platforms, gamification and interactive challenges have emerged as effective tools to encourage healthier lifestyles. A quantitative approach was employed using 150 respondents, selected from Jakarta millennials, who completed a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25, including validity and reliability testing, classical assumption tests, regression analysis, and hypothesis testing. The results indicate that both participation in digital health challenges and gamification features significantly and positively influence physical activity levels. Furthermore, simultaneous testing showed that both variables together exert a strong and significant effect. The findings highlight the importance of integrating gamified elements and health challenges in digital platforms to sustain motivation and promote long-term behavioral change. This research contributes to the literature on digital health interventions and provides practical recommendations for application developers, healthcare providers, and policymakers in promoting active lifestyles among millennials.
References
[1] F. Fitriani and S. Mulyono, “MOBILE HEALTH DAN EFEKTIVITASNYA TERHADAP AKTIVITAS FISIK REMAJA: LITERATUR REVIEW,” J. Ris. Kesehat. POLTEKKES DEPKES BANDUNG, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 364–372, 2023.
[2] N. C. W. Mtshali, P. Ndayizigamiye, I. Govender, and K. Maguraushe, “Fostering Youth Wellbeing Through mHealth Apps: Embracing Physical Activity for a Healthier Lifestyle,” in International Working Conference on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, Springer, 2023, pp. 416–428.
[3] B. Sañudo et al., “A randomized controlled mHealth trial that evaluates social comparison-oriented gamification to improve physical activity, sleep quantity, and quality of life in young adults,” Psychol. Sport Exerc., vol. 72, p. 102590, 2024.
[4] F. Ehrler and K. Blondon, “Adapting Gamification Strategies According to Targeted Health Behavior Change: Findings from a Focus Group,” in Digital Health and Informatics Innovations for Sustainable Health Care Systems, IOS Press, 2024, pp. 1125–1129.
[5] S. S. Coughlin, M. Whitehead, J. Q. Sheats, J. Mastromonico, and S. Smith, “A review of smartphone applications for promoting physical activity,” Jacobs J. community Med., vol. 2, no. 1, p. 21, 2016.
[6] S. O. Lontoh and A. Halim, “Karakteristik Pola Aktivitas Fisik Dan Indeks Massa Tubuh Pada Masyarakat Dewasa Muda Tomang Jakarta Barat,” Ebers Papyrus, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 39–48, 2023.
[7] S. Sukatemin, H. I. Muhalla, M. Muarrofah, D. A. Utari, and V. Y. Fitriani, “Sedentary Lifestyle and the Threat of Obesity Among Young People,” J. Acad. Sci., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 232–240, 2025.
[8] H. F. Badawi, H. Dong, and A. El Saddik, “Mobile cloud-based physical activity advisory system using biofeedback sensors,” Futur. Gener. Comput. Syst., vol. 66, pp. 59–70, 2017.
[9] R. Fildansyah, “Pengaruh Penggunaan Aplikasi Mobile Health (Health) dan Fitur Pemantauan Kesehatan Terhadap Gaya Hidup Sehat,” J. Multidisiplin West Sci., vol. 2, no. 06, pp. 473–482, 2023.
[10] K. Pickering and A. Pringle, “Gamification for physical activity behaviour change,” Perspect. Public Health, vol. 138, no. 6, pp. 309–310, 2018.
[11] D. L. Kappen, P. Mirza-Babaei, and L. E. Nacke, “Older adults’ motivation for physical activity using gamified technology: an eight-week experimental study,” in International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Springer, 2020, pp. 292–309.
[12] A. S. Mustafa, N. Ali, J. S. Dhillon, and D. Sedera, “An integrated model for evaluating the sustainability of gamified mobile health apps: An instrument development and validation,” in Healthcare, MDPI, 2023, p. 1051.
[13] V. R. Aulia, A. P. Subriadi, and R. Nadlifatin, “Gamification: A comprehensive review of literature,” in 2022 1st International Conference on Information System & Information Technology (ICISIT), IEEE, 2022, pp. 277–282.
[14] L. Xu et al., “The effects of mHealth-based gamification interventions on participation in physical activity: systematic review,” JMIR mHealth uHealth, vol. 10, no. 2, p. e27794, 2022.
[15] J. Koivisto and J. Hamari, “Gamification of physical activity: A systematic literature review of comparison studies.,” GamiFIN, pp. 106–117, 2019.
[16] T. Van Mierlo, D. Hyatt, A. T. Ching, R. Fournier, and R. S. Dembo, “Behavioral economics, wearable devices, and cooperative games: results from a population-based intervention to increase physical activity,” JMIR serious games, vol. 4, no. 1, p. e5358, 2016.
[17] J. Zhao, B. Freeman, and M. Li, “Can mobile phone apps influence people’s health behavior change? An evidence review,” J. Med. Internet Res., vol. 18, no. 11, p. e287, 2016.
[18] L. Harrington, “From apps to mHealth: informing, interacting, and changing behavior,” AACN Adv. Crit. Care, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 240–243, 2018.
[19] R. Damaševičius, J. Kim, and V. Z. Dourado, “use of smartphone applications to increase physical activity and fitness,” Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 9. Frontiers Media SA, p. 713306, 2022.
[20] D. Cedeño, “Uso de la gamificación en el contexto de la salud panameña,” 2020.
[21] P. Buckley and E. Doyle, “Gamification and student motivation,” Interact. Learn. Environ., vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 1162–1175, 2016.
[22] C. Luo, “An exploration of the impact of fitness apps on individual exercise behaviour,” Rev. Psicol. del Deport. (Journal Sport Psychol., vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 385–393, 2024.
[23] S. A. Tikkanen and M. Barnhouse, “The effects of personal and social uses of mobile health applications on healthy behaviors,” Commun. Stud., vol. 68, no. 2, pp. 152–172, 2017.
[24] Y. Chen, J. Zhang, and P. Pu, “Exploring social accountability for pervasive fitness apps,” in Proceedings of the eighth international conference on mobile ubiquitous computing, systems, services and technologies, 2014, pp. 221–226.
[25] A. M. Kanstrup, P. S. Bertelsen, and C. Knudsen, “Changing health behavior with social technology? A pilot test of a mobile app designed for social support of physical activity,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 17, no. 22, p. 8383, 2020.
[26] S. M. Lukin, G. M. Youngblood, H. Du, and M. Walker, “Building community and commitment with a virtual coach in mobile wellness programs,” in International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, Springer, 2014, pp. 279–284.
[27] X. Bigard, “Recommending physical activity for primary prevention of chronic diseases,” Rev. Prat., vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 268–272, 2020.
[28] F. Cannata, G. Vadalà, F. Russo, R. Papalia, N. Napoli, and P. Pozzilli, “Beneficial effects of physical activity in diabetic patients,” J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol., vol. 5, no. 3, p. 70, 2020.
[29] I. Shaw, M. L. Mathunjwa, and B. S. Shaw, “Physical activity and health promotion: a public health imperative,” in Health Promotion-Principles and Approaches, IntechOpen, 2023.
[30] S. Márquez roSa, J. Rodríguez Ordax, and S. De Abajo Olea, “Sedentarismo y salud: efectos beneficiosos de la actividad física,” Apunts, vol. 83, pp. 12–24, 2006.
[31] T. A. Rehn, R. A. Winett, U. Wisløff, and Ø. Rognmo, “Increasing physical activity of high intensity to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases and improve public health,” Open Cardiovasc. Med. J., vol. 7, p. 1, 2013.
[32] A. E. Chung, A. C. Skinner, S. E. Hasty, and E. M. Perrin, “Tweeting to health: a novel mHealth intervention using Fitbits and Twitter to foster healthy lifestyles,” Clin. Pediatr. (Phila)., vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 26–32, 2017.
[33] A. De la Pena and B. Amezcua, “Health Support in the Palm of Your Hand: The Role of Technology in Achieving Health Goals,” in Advances in Health Management, IntechOpen, 2017.
[34] C. A. Maher et al., “Gamification in a physical activity app: what gamification features are being used, by whom, and does it make a difference?,” Games Health J., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 193–199, 2022.
[35] Z. Ma, Q. Gao, Y. Tian, Y. Chen, and Q. Yuan, “Effectiveness of cooperative and competitive gamification in mobile fitness applications among occasional exercisers,” Behav. Inf. Technol., vol. 43, no. 11, pp. 2401–2423, 2024.
[36] G. Chan et al., “Social exergames in health and wellness: a systematic review of trends, effectiveness, challenges, and directions for future research,” Int. J. Human–Computer Interact., vol. 41, no. 10, pp. 5894–5925, 2025.
[37] J. F. Hair, W. C. Black, B. J. Babin, and R. E. Anderson, “Multivariate data analysis: Pearson College division,” Pers. London, UK, 2010.
[38] J. Barnes, Y.-C. Rhee, and R. J. Tallent, “Motivation toward physical activity: Effect of social media community on exercise adherence,” Media Watch, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 299–314, 2016.
[39] L. Schaffarczyk and A. Ilhan, “Healthier life and more fun? users’ motivations to apply activity tracking technology and the impact of gamification,” in International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Springer, 2019, pp. 124–136.
[40] S. B. Hales, B. Grant, D. J. Barr-Anderson, and G. M. Turner-McGrievy, “Examining the impact of an online social media challenge on participant physical activity and body weight in the United States,” Sport Soc., vol. 19, no. 10, pp. 1690–1702, 2016.
[41] L. R. Buis et al., “Evaluating Active U: an Internet-mediated physical activity program,” BMC Public Health, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 331, 2009.
[42] B. Tesi et al., “‘Health is a serious game’: Gamification as a tool for primary prevention in Public Health,” Eur. J. Public Health, vol. 33, no. Supplement_2, pp. ckad160-032, 2023.
[43] V. Saprikis and M. Vlachopoulou, “A Literature Review and an Investigation on Gamified Mobile Apps in Health and Fitness,” in Balkan Conference on Operational Research, Springer, 2020, pp. 227–234.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Heni Widyaningsih, Rani Eka Arini, Paramita Andiani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Facebook 
Instagram 
Twitter 
Youtube 
westscience.journals@gmail.com