Determinants of the Adoption of Mobile Applications that Help Induce Healthy Eating Habits

Abstract

A healthy diet is a critical factor that affects long-term healthcare outcomes. One of the ways to induce healthy eating habits is through the use of mobile applications. To date, there has been little agreement on the determinants of the adoption of such mobile applications in the South African context. Hence, this study investigated the determinants of the adoption of mobile applications that help induce healthy eating habits in the South African context. The study adopted a survey research design and the UTAUT framework as the guiding theoretical framework. Data were collected and analysed using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings revealed that performance expectancy and social influence have a significant effect on the behavioural intention to adopt mobile applications that help induce healthy eating habits. However, effort expectancy does not significantly influence behavioural intention. Additionally, behavioural intention positively influences the use behaviour of such applications while facilitating conditions do not have a significant effect on the use behaviour. This study recommends that interventions geared towards encouraging the use of mobile applications to induce healthy eating habits should focus on the identified determinants.