The intention of Chinese college students to use sports smart wearable devices based on the technology acceptance model and technology readiness index

Why Your Fitness Tracker Matters

Fitness bands and smartwatches have become everyday companions for many young people, promising better health, more exercise, and a more “quantified” life. But owning a device is one thing; actually wanting to use it regularly is another. This study asks a simple but important question: what makes Chinese college students truly willing to use sports-focused smart wearables, and how can these devices genuinely help improve their health?

The Promise and Problem of Smart Sports Gear

Smart wearables can log steps, heart rate, sleep, and workouts around the clock. They can even spot worrisome trends early and nudge users to move more. International fitness surveys now rank wearables at the top of global health trends. Yet in China, serious fitness problems remain among college students: around one in three fail basic physical health standards, and overall performance has not improved in recent years. Despite strong government policies and the popularity of technology, sports-focused wearables have not spread as widely or effectively on campuses as expected. Many students are curious but cautious, and universities and companies lack clear evidence on what really drives or blocks device use.

How the Study Looked Inside Students’ Minds

The researchers combined two well-known ideas from technology research. The first, the Technology Acceptance Model, focuses on whether people see a new product as useful and easy to use. The second, the Technology Readiness Index, looks at personal traits such as optimism, willingness to try new gadgets, discomfort with technology, and worries about security. Together, these frameworks help explain not just what a device can do, but how individuals feel and think about using it. The team surveyed 428 students from multiple universities in central and southern China. All participants were at least 18, had used at least one sports wearable (such as a fitness band, smartwatch, or sports headphones), and could complete a detailed questionnaire.

What Shapes Students’ Willingness to Wear and Use Devices

Students answered questions about several influences: how useful they felt wearables were for health and daily life, how easy the devices seemed to learn and operate, how worried they were about privacy, how innovative and curious they felt, and how much health goals and social circles pushed them toward use. Statistical modeling showed that every one of these factors played a positive role. Devices that students believed were simple and effortless to use strongly boosted their sense that the devices were valuable. In fact, ease of use had an even stronger effect on perceived value than is typical for digital products, likely because complex controls feel especially annoying during exercise. Curiosity stood out as the single strongest driver of ease of use: students who like to explore new technologies were more likely to feel that wearables were straightforward and approachable.

The Power of Health Goals, Friends, and Privacy Comfort

Health needs and social motivation also proved important. Students who wanted to improve fitness or manage their health, and who saw friends, classmates, or online influencers using wearables, were more inclined to adopt them. Social influence, from peer use to campus communities, helped normalize these devices and made them feel more attractive and fun. Privacy concerns did matter—students did worry about who might see their health data—but in this study, curiosity and the desire to experiment with new tools outweighed fear. Overall, both perceived usefulness and ease of use directly increased the intention to keep using sports wearables, and all of the psychological and social factors fed into these two core beliefs.

What This Means for Health, Teaching, and Design

The findings suggest that if colleges and companies want students to embrace sports wearables, they should focus first on making devices genuinely simple and enjoyable to use, while clearly protecting personal data. Features like one-touch workout modes, clear visual feedback, and visible privacy controls can lower barriers. At the same time, playful exploration, campus trials, and social sharing can tap into students’ curiosity and peer networks. By understanding why young people choose to wear or ignore these devices, educators, designers, and policymakers can better use technology to support regular exercise and healthier habits. In the long run, smarter, more student-centered wearables could become a practical tool in improving college students’ fitness and helping advance broader public health goals in China.

Citation: Wu, J., Xiang, C., Zhao, J. et al. The intention of Chinese college students to use sports smart wearable devices based on the technology acceptance model and technology readiness index. Sci Rep 16, 11399 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41062-9

Keywords: smart wearable devices, college students, fitness technology, technology acceptance, physical activity