Perfecto
Culturally-specific narrative health app motivating physical activity in middle-aged and elderly Latinx populations
Description
A fitness tracking app that leverages culturally-specific narratives and artwork to encourage positive behavior change and healthier living in middle-aged and elderly Latinx populations. Combining narrative theory, social-psychology, and user experience (UI/UX) research, the project examines the impacts of a smartphone-based health app for motivating middle-aged and elderly Latinx people who are seeking to increase their physical activity for better health. This project builds on WhoIsZuki, a previous research study that demonstrated the efficacy of narrative-based feedback for increasing physical activity among smartphone app users. Latinx people are underrepresented in current interventions focused on health despite the fact that this population is disproportionately affected by diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Research shows that when health interventions are cognizant of target populations' cultures, their knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions undergo a shift. The Perfecto Project aims to leverage the motivating effect of cultural-specificity to devise the most effective digital health solutions.
Date
2021 - Present
Keywords
physical activity
health behavior change
Latinx populations
older adults
narrative
smartphones
user study
