Normalised Step Targets in Fitness Apps Affect Users’ Autonomy Need Satisfaction, Motivation and Physical Activity – A Six-Week RCT

Fitness apps are promising digital tools to support self-tracking and physical activity. Specific app functions such as normalized step targets represent controlling conditions that can affect controlled vs. autonomous motivation and thus motivated physical activity. It was the aim of this study to examine the effects of self-tracking via a fitness app and the implementation of a normalized step target on aspects of motivation and physical activity by using Self-Determination Theory as a theoretical framework.In a six-week RCT (N = 152; age M = 24.43, SD = 4.61), participants in two groups were provided with fitness app devices to track their physical activity. Participants in one group (ET) had a normalized step target of 10,000 whereas the other group (ENT) had not any step target. Participants in a third control group tracked their physical activity without fitness app support. Self-reported physical activity, basic needs satisfaction, and motivation regulation were assessed.Physical activity increased in the fitness tracker groups compared to the control group. Moderate physical activity and autonomy need satisfaction increased in the ENT group. Identified motivation decreased in the ET and control groups and introjected motivation decreased in the control group. Amotivation increased in the ENT group. Conclusively, self-tracking via fitness apps can support physical activity, and normalized step targets can undermine motivation. Lack of normalized targets can support autonomy need satisfaction and physical activity but can also foster amotivation. Thus, it is advised to support autonomous goal setting in fitness app users.