Impact of Digital Fitness Application Use on Mental Health of High School Students in Jordan
Keywords:
Digital Fitness Applications, Adolescent Mental Health, Physical Activity Intensity, Health Interventions.
Abstract
This study interrogates the transformative potential of digital fitness applications on the mental health of Jordanian high-school students. Its primary objectives were to elucidate the motivations driving app adoption, quantify the association between recorded and actual physical-activity intensity and psychological well-being, and evaluate the moderating roles of app features and virtual community engagement. Employing a descriptive quantitative methodology, data were gathered via a rigorously validated, Likert-scale questionnaire administered to 380 students in Irbid, with reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α) exceeding 0.80 across all subscales. Key findings reveal that personalized workout plans and peer-support networks underpin app use, while recorded moderate-to-vigorous activity most strongly predicts reductions in anxiety and perceived stress. Actual increases in physical activity translated into enhanced concentration and relaxation, and progress-tracking dashboards emerged as the most potent adherence catalyst. Virtual community interactions yielded moderate gains in belonging and mood, with informal peer exchanges outpacing formal forums. Collectively, these insights underscore the imperative of integrating adaptive personalization, clear feedback loops, and social affordances to optimize digital interventions for adolescent mental-health resilience.
References
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25) Schoeppe, S., Alley, S., Rebar, A. L., Hayman, M., Bray, N. A., & van Lippevelde, W., et al. (2017). Apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents: A review of quality, features and behaviour change techniques. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14, 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0538-3
26) Seah, M. L., & Koh, K. T. (2020). The efficacy of using mobile applications in changing adolescent girls’ physical activity behaviour during weekends. European Physical Education Review, 27(1), 113–131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1356336X20930741
27) Staiano, A. E., Newton, R. L., Beyl, R. A., Kracht, C. L., Hendrick, C. A., Viverito, M., et al. (2022). mHealth intervention for motor skills: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 149(5), e2021053362. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-053362
28) Stanmore, E., Stubbs, B., Vancampfort, D., de Bruin, E. D., & Firth, J. (2017). The effect of active video games on cognitive functioning in clinical and non clinical populations: A meta analysis of randomized controlled trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 78, 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.011
29) Stasinaki, A., Büchter, D., Shih, C. I., Heldt, K., Güsewell, S., & Brogle, B., et al. (2021). Effects of a novel mobile health intervention compared to a multi component behaviour changing program on body mass index, physical capacities and stress parameters in adolescents with obesity: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics, 21, 308. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02781-2
30) Tugault Lafleur, C. N., De Jongh González, O., Macdonald, J., Bradbury, J., Warshawski, T., Ball, G. D., et al. (2023). Efficacy of the Aim2Be intervention in changing lifestyle behaviors among adolescents with overweight and obesity: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e38545. https://doi.org/10.2196/38545
31) White, R. L., Vella, S. A., Biddle, S. J. H., Sutcliffe, J., Guagliano, J. M., Uddin, R., … Teychenne, M. (2024). Physical activity and mental health: A systematic review and best evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studies. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, Article 134. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01676-6
32) Yang, Q., & Van Stee, S. K. (2019). The comparative effectiveness of mobile phone interventions in improving health outcomes: Meta analytic review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(4), e11244. https://doi.org/10.2196/11244
2) Benavides, C., Benítez Andrades, J. A., Marqués Sánchez, P., & Arias, N. (2024). eHealth intervention to improve health habits in the adolescent population: A mixed methods study. arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.07923. https://doi.org/10.2196/20217
3) Benzing, V., & Schmidt, M. (2017). Cognitively and physically demanding exergaming to improve executive functions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A randomised clinical trial. BMC Pediatrics, 17, Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0757-9
4) Benzing, V., Chang, Y. K., & Schmidt, M. (2018). Acute physical activity enhances executive functions in children with ADHD. Scientific Reports, 8, Article 7353. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30067-8
5) Borges Viana, R., & Barbosa de Lira, C. A. (2020). Exergames as coping strategies for anxiety disorders during the COVID 19 quarantine period. Games for Health Journal, 9(3), 165–172. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2020.0060
6) Conroy, D. E., Yang, C. H., & Maher, J. P. (2014). Behavior change techniques in top ranked mobile apps for physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46(6), 649–652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.01.010
7) Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Sage.
8) Direito, A., Carraça, E. V., Rawstorn, J. C., Whittaker, R., & Maddison, R. (2017). mHealth technologies to influence physical activity and sedentary behaviors: Behavior change techniques, systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(2), 226–239. 10.1007/s12160-016-9846-0
9) Direito, A., Jiang, Y., Whittaker, R., & Maddison, R. (2015). Apps for IMproving FITness and increasing physical activity among young people: The AIMFIT pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(8), e210. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4568
10) Domin, A., Spruijt Metz, D., Theisen, D., Ouzzahra, Y., & Vögele, C. (2021). Smartphone based interventions for physical activity promotion: Scoping review of the evidence over the last 10 years. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(7), e24308. https://doi.org/10.2196/24308
11) Fiedler, J., Eckert, T., Wunsch, K., & Woll, A. (2020). Key facets to build up eHealth and mHealth interventions to enhance physical activity, sedentary behavior and nutrition in healthy subjects: An umbrella review. BMC Public Health, 20, 1605. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09700-7
12) Götzl, C., Hiller, S., Rauschenberg, C., Schick, A., Fechtelpeter, J., Fischer Abaigar, U., Koppe, G., Durstewitz, D., Reininghaus, U., & Krumm, S. (2022). Artificial intelligence informed mobile mental health apps for young people: A mixed methods approach on users’ and stakeholders’ perspectives. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 16, Article 86. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00522-6
13) He, Z., Wu, H., Yu, F., Fu, J., Sun, S., & Huang, T. (2021). Effects of smartphone based interventions on physical activity in children and adolescents: Systematic review and meta analysis. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(2), e22601. https://doi.org/10.2196/22601
14) Jiang, J., & Yang, Y. (2025). GymBuddy and Elomia, AI integrated applications, effects on the mental health of the students with psychological disorders. BMC Psychology, 13, Article 350. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02640-0 SpringerLink
15) Likhitweerawong, N., Boonchooduang, N., Kittisakmontri, K., & Louthrenoo, O. (2021). Effectiveness of mobile application on changing weight, healthy eating habits, and quality of life in children and adolescents with obesity: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics, 21, 499. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02980-x
16) Litman, L., Rosen, Z., Spierer, D. K., Weinberger Litman, S. L., Goldschein, A., & Robinson, J. (2015). Mobile exercise apps and increased leisure time exercise activity: A moderated mediation analysis of the role of self efficacy and barriers. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(8), e195. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4142
17) Liu, J., Zeng, M., Wang, D., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Applying social cognitive theory in predicting physical activity among Chinese adolescents: A cross sectional study with multigroup structural equation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 695241. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.695241
18) Mateo Orcajada, A., & Vaquero Cristóbal, R. (2023). Gender and academic year as moderators of the efficacy of mobile app interventions to promote physical activity in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10, 1. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02502-3
19) Mateo Orcajada, A., Abenza Cano, L., Albaladejo Saura, M. D., & Vaquero Cristóbal, R. (2023). Mandatory after school use of step tracker apps improves physical activity, body composition and fitness of adolescents. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11584-0
20) Mittmann, G., Barnard, A., Krammer, I., Martins, D., & Dias, J. (2022). LINA – A social augmented reality game around mental health, supporting real world connection and sense of belonging for early adolescents. CHI ’22: Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 351. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3549505
21) Morales Vives, F., Camps, E., & Dueñas, J. M. (2020). Predicting academic achievement in adolescents: The role of maturity, intelligence and personality. Psicothema, 32(1), 84–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2019.262
22) Oh, W., An, Y., Min, S., & Park, C. (2022). Comparative effectiveness of artificial intelligence based interactive home exercise applications in adolescents with obesity. Sensors, 22(19), 7352. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22197352
23) Peuters, C., Maenhout, L., Cardon, G., De Paepe, A., DeSmet, A., Lauwerier, E., Leta, K., & Crombez, G. (2024). A mobile healthy lifestyle intervention to promote mental health in adolescence: A mixed methods evaluation. BMC Public Health, 24, Article 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17260-9
24) Ridgers, N. D., Timperio, A., Ball, K., Lai, S. K., & Brown, H. (2021). Effect of commercial wearables and digital behavior change resources on the physical activity of adolescents attending schools in socio economically disadvantaged areas: The RAW PA cluster randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18, 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01110-1
25) Schoeppe, S., Alley, S., Rebar, A. L., Hayman, M., Bray, N. A., & van Lippevelde, W., et al. (2017). Apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents: A review of quality, features and behaviour change techniques. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14, 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0538-3
26) Seah, M. L., & Koh, K. T. (2020). The efficacy of using mobile applications in changing adolescent girls’ physical activity behaviour during weekends. European Physical Education Review, 27(1), 113–131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1356336X20930741
27) Staiano, A. E., Newton, R. L., Beyl, R. A., Kracht, C. L., Hendrick, C. A., Viverito, M., et al. (2022). mHealth intervention for motor skills: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 149(5), e2021053362. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-053362
28) Stanmore, E., Stubbs, B., Vancampfort, D., de Bruin, E. D., & Firth, J. (2017). The effect of active video games on cognitive functioning in clinical and non clinical populations: A meta analysis of randomized controlled trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 78, 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.011
29) Stasinaki, A., Büchter, D., Shih, C. I., Heldt, K., Güsewell, S., & Brogle, B., et al. (2021). Effects of a novel mobile health intervention compared to a multi component behaviour changing program on body mass index, physical capacities and stress parameters in adolescents with obesity: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics, 21, 308. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02781-2
30) Tugault Lafleur, C. N., De Jongh González, O., Macdonald, J., Bradbury, J., Warshawski, T., Ball, G. D., et al. (2023). Efficacy of the Aim2Be intervention in changing lifestyle behaviors among adolescents with overweight and obesity: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e38545. https://doi.org/10.2196/38545
31) White, R. L., Vella, S. A., Biddle, S. J. H., Sutcliffe, J., Guagliano, J. M., Uddin, R., … Teychenne, M. (2024). Physical activity and mental health: A systematic review and best evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studies. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, Article 134. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01676-6
32) Yang, Q., & Van Stee, S. K. (2019). The comparative effectiveness of mobile phone interventions in improving health outcomes: Meta analytic review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(4), e11244. https://doi.org/10.2196/11244
Published
2025-08-05
How to Cite
Obeidat, L. M. (2025). Impact of Digital Fitness Application Use on Mental Health of High School Students in Jordan. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 8(8), 69-85. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v8i8.2880
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