
Dr Lauren Taylor BSc Psychology, Msc Health Psychology, current student in PhD Health Psychology
About
My research project
The role of the Digital Twin in promoting lifestyle behaviours and weight managementLeading an unhealthy lifestyle has been associated to increasing risks in developing chronic diseases. There is evidence to suggest that most chronic diseases are associated to physical inactivity and inappropriate diet consumption. Mobile health (or 'mHealth') application interventions are a possible solution for motivating people towards healthy lifestyle promotion, such as healthy eating and physical activity. mHealth applications also include virtual representations, or self-resembling computer generated images in influencing behaviour change. However, whilst previous literature has investigated the applications and efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) applications and self-resembling virtual representation interventions as separate entities, there has been a lack of research that has explored these factors combined in changing eating and exercise behaviours. Furthermore, my research aims to investigate the effectiveness of a virtual representation on an mHealth app known as the Digital Twin in influencing lifestyle behaviours. If you would like further information about my project, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Supervisors
Leading an unhealthy lifestyle has been associated to increasing risks in developing chronic diseases. There is evidence to suggest that most chronic diseases are associated to physical inactivity and inappropriate diet consumption. Mobile health (or 'mHealth') application interventions are a possible solution for motivating people towards healthy lifestyle promotion, such as healthy eating and physical activity. mHealth applications also include virtual representations, or self-resembling computer generated images in influencing behaviour change. However, whilst previous literature has investigated the applications and efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) applications and self-resembling virtual representation interventions as separate entities, there has been a lack of research that has explored these factors combined in changing eating and exercise behaviours. Furthermore, my research aims to investigate the effectiveness of a virtual representation on an mHealth app known as the Digital Twin in influencing lifestyle behaviours. If you would like further information about my project, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Publications
The aim of the present study was to explore perceptions of the Digital Twin (a three-dimensional digital representation of an anatomical body) on a mobile health application, and the potential mechanisms that are important for behaviour change, with a focus on health and weight management. An explorative and participant-led approach was taken using semi-structured online interviews to explore the experiences of people, in this case non-users and users wanting to independently manage their health. An opportunity sample of forty participants from the United Kingdom (20 who had not used digitally assistive technology and 20 who had) were recruited from social media platforms (22 females and 18 males; mean age was 30). The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Two main themes were elicited: Initiators of behaviour change (i.e., autonomous choices, social influences, and personalisation) and Barriers to behaviour change (i.e., adverse reactions, weight management norms and negative attitudes). Overall, it was suggested that the Digital Twin should be representative of a user's personalised health information and BMI. These results can inform an intervention designed to use the Digital Twin to initiate and maintain lifestyle behaviour change. It can also develop our understanding of how such technology can be applied as a tool for health management.
Many mobile health (mHealth) application interventions include virtual representations of the self in varying forms, such as agents, or avatars to initiate health behaviour change. This review aimed to determine: (i) which virtual representations are effective in mHealth application interventions, and (ii) whether any studies implemented specific mechanisms (the psychological causes of change) and behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to influence positive behaviour change. Following PRISMA guidelines, a narrative systematic review of empirical studies was conducted from ten different databases (ranging from MEDLINE to Cochrane Library) from inception to December 2021. This included articles reporting a virtual representation of mHealth application intervention, published in English from any time point, which addressed and reported a variety of outcome health behaviours. Information on sample characteristics, study conditions, mechanisms and BCTs, results, and conclusions were extracted. Quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools. Out of the 2,579 original search results, five eligible studies (total participants = 509), with low to moderate quality were included. It was found that customisable virtual representation mHealth interventions were most effective in encouraging behaviour change and app adherence. These interventions included mechanisms such as motivation, feedback, self-image, and BCTs such as goal setting, and self-monitoring. The current evidence suggests that virtual representations in mHealth app interventions may positively influence health behaviour change. However, there is limited evidence available to determine to which these influences are a result of the virtual representations, or the intervention design.