The Impact of Gamification on Strava Application Users in Indonesia: User Perspectives and Digital Behavior

Gamification is widely used in fitness apps like Strava to keep users engaged through leaderboards, badges, challenges, and social features. While these elements can boost motivation, their long-term impact on user engagement and well-being remains unclear. This study explores how Strava's gamification features influence motivation, engagement, and well-being, using theories like Social Comparison Theory (ScT) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT). A survey of 348 Strava users was conducted to analyze key factors such as social influence (NE, SUN), recognition (RECOG), community engagement (RB), and motivation (IM, EM). The findings show that social influence and recognition play a major role in engagement, while attitude strongly affects both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, which in turn drive long-term usage. However, Reciprocal Benefits (RB) did not significantly impact user attitude, suggesting that personal achievement matters more than community support. This study highlights the importance of balancing gamification elements to maximize engagement without causing stress or unhealthy competition. Future research should explore long-term behavioral changes to refine gamification strategies for better user retention and well-being.