{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T05:01:20Z","timestamp":1790744480887,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790726400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Virtual technology offers a promising tool for encouraging engagement in exercise, as it can provide the user with enhanced visual stimuli and accessible metrics; however, the specific features within that technology that contribute to motivation and participation require further investigation. This study examined how different visual displays and the presence of a second rider influenced motivation to exercise using virtual technology.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Twenty-four young adults completed a 3-km cycling course on the same virtual track under three counterbalanced conditions including (a) a metrics-only ride, where a screen in front of the rider displayed only standard performance variables (e.g., power, cadence), (b) a solo-virtual ride, which was identical to the previous condition, but with the addition of the participant being depicted on the screen as an avatar amongst virtual scenery, and (c) a paired-virtual ride, that contained the same elements as the previous two conditions, but with the addition of a second rider represented on the screen as an avatar.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The quantitative results, which included performance-related variables (cadence, power, speed, and heart rate), measures of intrinsic motivation, and ratings of perceived exertion, revealed significantly higher values for the paired-virtual condition compared to both the metrics-only and the solo-virtual conditions. Differences between the metrics-only and the solo-virtual conditions were isolated to interest-enjoyment and effort-importance. Brief interviews with participants indicated that the paired-virtual condition produced heightened levels of enjoyment and competitive drive which motivated participants to exert more effort. The solo-virtual condition was reported to be relaxing, but it was also reported as the least engaging. The metrics-only condition provoked negative emotions due to the absence of distractions and a heightened focus on internal cues.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The results highlight the psychological mechanisms that influence motivation and engagement when using virtual exercise technology.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1891596","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T04:52:19Z","timestamp":1790743939000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["How do virtual exercise technology and social presence influence motivation to exercise?"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Sarina","family":"Sitsky","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology","place":["Brisbane, QLD, Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rian H.","family":"Crowther","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"QUT Sport, Queensland University of Technology","place":["Brisbane, QLD, Australia"]},{"name":"School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work, Griffith University","place":["Gold Coast, QLD, Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vincent G.","family":"Kelly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology","place":["Brisbane, QLD, Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luke","family":"Wilkins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Sport and Human Performance Research, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University","place":["Melbourne, VIC, Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tristan J.","family":"Coulter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology","place":["Brisbane, QLD, Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adam D.","family":"Gorman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology","place":["Brisbane, QLD, Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0316051","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0316051","article-title":"Temporal trends in aerobic physical activity guideline adherence among nationally representative samples of U.S adults between 2011 and 2019: cross-sectional findings from a sample of over 2 million adults","volume":"20","author":"Abernethy","year":"2025","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.glmedi.2025.100198","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in qualitative research","volume":"6","author":"Ahmed","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. 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