JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital health technologies are increasingly used to monitor and improve personal health and well-being. These tools not only enable self-tracking but also influence user behavior and self-understanding. As health technologies advance and are entwined with everyday lives, understanding their overall psychological outcomes as well as identity’s role in this process is crucial.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine how usage of health and well-being technologies predict satisfaction of technology-related autonomy, relatedness, and competence needs over time, reflecting the broader psychological outcomes of digital health technologies. Furthermore, we investigated whether technological social identity serves as a pathway through which health technology use associates with needs satisfaction.

Methods:

We used three-wave survey data from Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland collected between 2022-2024. The sample consisted of 8,806 respondents aged 18 to 75. Use of digital health technologies included smartphone health and well-being apps, well-being coaching apps, fitness trackers or watches, and smart rings. Satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness were measured with Technology-based Experience of Need Satisfaction -scale with focus on new technologies’ impact to one’s life overall. We applied a dynamic panel model to investigate the longitudinal relationship between health and well-being technology use and needs satisfaction. Mediation analysis was performed to assess whether social identification as a technology user explained this relationship.

Results:

The analysis showed that usage of health and well-being technology was associated with higher technological relatedness (β = 0.14, P < .001). Autonomy (β = –0.06, P = .003) and competence (β = –0.06, P = .008), however, demonstrated small but negative connection with health technology use. Using Finland as a reference country, we found no statistically significant differences in comparison with the other countries. Mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between health technology use and psychological needs satisfaction were largely explained by in-group identificatioThe findings indicate that using digital health and well-being technologies can support users’ social needs but might also diminish their sense of autonomy and competence. Particularly, our study emphasizes the role of technological social identity transmitting the outcomes of health technology use, contributing to both positive and negative psychological effects. We highlight acknowledging the social identity aspect underlying the health technology use, especially as current health and well-being technologies are closely integrated into users’ everyday lives and incorporate social components, likely shaping user behaviors, self-understanding and engagement with technologies.n as a technology user.

Conclusions:

The findings indicate that using digital health and well-being technologies can support users’ social needs but might also diminish their sense of autonomy and competence. Particularly, our study emphasized the role of technological social identity transmitting the outcomes of health technology use, contributing to both positive and negative psychological effects. We highlight acknowledging the social identity aspect underlying the health technology use, especially as current health and well-being technologies are closely integrated into users’ everyday lives and incorporate social components, likely shaping user behaviors, self-understanding and engagement with technologies.