The Influence Mechanism of Physical Fitness APP Users' Sense of Presence on Continuous Use Intention

Driven by the recent pandemic and rapid network technology advances, sports and fitness apps have become widely popular. The combination of sports and social features is now a key driver of user participation in online fitness activities. Online telepresence has also received increasing attention from scholars, leading to different viewpoints on its impact on user behavior. This study, grounded in Stimulus-Organism-Response theory and relevant telepresence research, develops a model to examine how users' sense of presence affects their intention to continue using these apps and tests it empirically. The findings show that presence within sports and fitness apps significantly enhances continuous use intention, with trust fully mediating this relationship. Moreover, potential performance and involvement moderate the influence of spatial and social presence on user trust. These insights highlight the importance of individual psychological perceptions in decision-making and offer guidance for improving interactive design and social functions in future sports and fitness apps.