"STRAVA" app motivates runners

A new study suggests that the "STRAVA" app motivates runners to run more. When seeking motivation for running, can Strava make a difference? Research conducted at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, indicates that Strava, the prominent online social network for athletes, serves as a catalyst for physical activity, inspiring runners to log their workouts and accumulate Strava kudos. The findings, published in the Journal of Social Networks, revolve around an analysis of Strava profiles to gauge how members of virtual Strava clubs influence each other. The researchers directed their attention to five distinct Strava clubs in the Netherlands, which functioned as virtual counterparts to real-world running clubs, boasting a collective membership of 329 individuals. In a pre-study survey, participants were probed about their motives for using Strava, revealing that: - 83 percent utilize the platform to document their exercise routines. - 78 percent employ it to monitor their progress. - 31 percent engage in social interactions with fellow runners. - 21 percent seek acknowledgement for their efforts.

The researchers posited that runners employ the behavior of their peers as a yardstick, potentially striving to replicate it intentionally in order to enhance their own status or avoid exclusion. After scrutinizing a year's worth of recorded data, the researchers concluded that those who received more commendations were more inclined to increase their running activities. Interestingly, the researchers initially anticipated that athletes who ran more would exert the greatest influence on the app. However, the opposite proved to be true, with less active runners more likely to mimic the behavior of their more active friends. As per the study, "those who garnered greater praise for their activities ran more." The study also revealed that many runners adapt their behavior to earn more praise-worthy activities (i.e., running further, running longer, chasing segments). Runners with praise disabled ran less than those with praise enabled. In four out of five clubs, the social influence effects (i.e., what your closest friends in the club do and share) were more significant than receiving praise. In conclusion, this study points to a promising avenue for increasing physical activity and fostering support among Strava members. Even the virtual thumbs-up alone could motivate users to go for a run.