Am I feeling better? Exploring the relationship between consumer engagement with preventive health technologies and wellbeing

Although consumers are increasingly using technologies to improve their health, little is known about the influence of preventive health technologies (PHTs) on consumer wellbeing. To address this gap in knowledge, this paper explores the relationship between consumer engagement (CE) with PHTs and wellbeing. In-depth interviews with users of such technologies reveal that (1) consumer health goals shape CE with PHTs and its dynamics, (2) specific engagement trajectories result from those engagement dynamics and (3) the beneficial versus detrimental role of CE with PHTs in consumer wellbeing is conditioned by how technology engagement unfolds (i.e., by the trajectories of engagement). This research advances knowledge about health technologies, the dynamic nature of the engagement process and its influence on consumer wellbeing