Objective The impact of augmented reality (AR) exercise apps on health-related behaviors and outcomes remains underexplored. Grounded in affordance theory, this study investigates how the utilitarian, hedonic, and social affordances of these apps influence user engagement, ultimately affecting continuance intention and subjective well-being in China. Methods Data were collected via an online survey of 399 users of AR fitness apps in China, recruited through the professional research platform Credamo.com . All constructs were measured with validated scales adapted to the AR exercise context. The hypothesized relationships were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results The results indicate that utilitarian (environmental embedding, visibility), hedonic (playfulness), and social (competition) affordances are positively associated with user engagement. This engagement, in turn, positively influences users’ subjective well-being and their intention to continue using AR exercise apps. Conclusion This study extends affordance theory by identifying the affordances in AR fitness apps and validating user engagement as the critical underlying mechanism. The findings suggest that designers should prioritize these affordances and health policymakers should leverage them to develop effective, AR-driven digital sports initiatives.
Chen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.