Background
deaths
DISEASES
Physical inactivity is a global health problem and a primary risk factor for non-communicable diseases, which now account for the majority of deaths worldwide [To support greater physical activity participation among young women, gender-specific research is required to understand how to better promote physical activity behaviour in this cohort [With most adults now owning a smartphone, mobile phone applications (apps) are increasingly being used for physical activity promotion and have the potential to deliver wide-reaching interventions [Compared to the broader population, inactive young women are reportedly more attracted to using physical activity apps [Content analyses suggest that commercially available physical activity apps use between five to nine behaviour change techniques [To enhance physical activity app design for young women a clearer understanding of two processes is needed: 1) the process through which individual behaviour change techniques influence behaviour, and 2) the design elements of behaviour change techniques that contribute to engagement. Drawing on theories is recommended in both regards, as theories provide insight into the possible mechanisms of action through which a behaviour change technique or design element influences behaviour [Previous research on young women’s experience of smart phone apps for physical activity is limited. To the best of our knowledge there have been a few mixed gender qualitative studies focused on experiences of app use by university students (who tend to be young adults) [The present study aims to address gaps in knowledge about young women’s experiences with behaviour change techniques in physical activity apps by using qualitative, participatory research methods.In particular, the study aimed to address the following research questions: 1) What are young women’s experiences of behaviour change techniques utilised in a popular smartphone app, and 2) are there factors that impact young women’s behaviour that are not addressed by a popular smartphone app? Qualitative research methods are well-placed to generate insights about factors that affect user experience compared with quantitative methods. This includes information about how techniques make users think and feel, reasons for non-engagement with specific techniques, and external factors that may impact users’ experience with apps [