# The impact of an AIPER on health behavior improvement among sedentary adults: a longitudinal extension of the TAM

## TL;DR

This study shows that an AI-based exercise recommendation system can improve health behaviors in sedentary adults over six months.

## Contribution

The study extends the Technology Acceptance Model by demonstrating chain mediation effects of AI-based exercise systems on health behavior improvement.

## Key findings

- AIPER significantly increased health behavior improvement among sedentary adults.
- Perceived ease of use and usefulness indirectly influenced system use and health behavior improvement.
- Health self-efficacy played a key role in the mediation chain.

## Abstract

Sedentary behavior has become a major public health concern and is closely associated with various unhealthy behaviors and chronic diseases. Artificial intelligence shows promise for promoting health behavior change through personalized exercise interventions.

To examine, over a 6-month period, the effect of an AI-based Personalized Exercise Recommendation System (AIPER) on Health Behavior Improvement (HBI) among sedentary adults and to analyze its psychological mechanisms.

A two-wave survey (T1 and T2, 6 months apart) was conducted with 492 sedentary participants. Measures covered TAM-related behavioral variables—Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Attitude Toward Use (ATU), Behavioral Intention (BI), and System Use (SU)—as well as Health Self-Efficacy (HSE), Health Behavior Improvement (HBI), and demographics. Factor analyses, correlation analyses, and structural equation modeling were performed using SPSS 23.0 and Amos 23.0.

AIPER significantly promoted HBI among sedentary adults. Chain mediation effects were identified, whereby PEOU and PU influenced ATU and BI, and together with HSE indirectly affected SU, ultimately improving HBI.

AIPER can increase SU and indirectly improve HBI in sedentary populations. It is recommended that government agencies, enterprises, and universities/research institutes implement AI health-management systems, formulate individualized and scientifically grounded behavior-change plans, enhance the health behaviors of sedentary groups, and advance personalized, evidence-based, and sustainable public health promotion.