Impact Of Artificial Intelligence-Based Fitness Applications On Physical Activity Participation And Health Behaviour Among Undergraduate Students In Federal Universities In North-West Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026587Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based fitness applications on physical activity participation and health behaviour among the undergraduates of Federal Universities, North-West Nigeria. The four objectives, four research questions, and four null hypotheses were the compass of this study. For the study, a descriptive correlational survey research design was used. The population consisted of undergraduate students of a few Federal Universities in the Northwest Nigeria. 384 undergraduate students were chosen as respondents using a multistage sampling technique. The Artificial Intelligence Fitness Applications, Physical Activity and Health Behaviour Questionnaire (AIFAPHBQ) was used to gather data. The internal consistency of the instrument was evaluated by Cronbach's Alpha reliability technique and the overall reliability coefficient obtained was 0.84. It was endorsed by experts in the field of Physical and Health Education, Educational Technology, and Measurement and Evaluation. The mean and the standard deviation were used to solve the problems in the study, while the independent-samples t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were applied to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the results, the use of AI-based fitness apps among undergraduate students was at moderate level (Grand Mean = 2.84, SD = 0.76). Use of the AI fitness app was positively associated with physical activity participation (r = .61, p < .001) and health behaviour (r = .58, p < .001). The results also revealed that male students felt they were using AI based fitness apps slightly more than female students, but this was not statistically significant (t = 1.63, p = .104). The researchers found that there is significant potential for the use of AI fitness apps to boost physical activity participation and promote positive health behaviours among undergraduate students. It suggests that digital health education, implementing institutional wellness programmes, and enhancing access to relevant digital infrastructure should be encouraged to promote responsible and health-oriented use of AI-based fitness technologies at universities.
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