Beyond the Metrics: The Psychological Impact of Fitness Technology on Self-Image and Social Anxiety

Explores how fitness technology affects mental health, self-image, and social anxiety, revealing its paradoxical effects through insights from sports science, psychology, UX, and gender studies

Beyond the Metrics: The Psychological Impact of Fitness Technology on Self-Image and Social Anxiety offers a compelling, interdisciplinary analysis of digital fitness tools’ effects on mental well-being, identity formation, and physical self-perception. With technology’s pervasive influence on wellness, this book analyzes the meaning of existence and competition under conditions of continuous monitoring.
The authors, drawing upon their diverse expertise, offer valuable perspectives. Dr. Asegul Hulus, a specialist in user experience (UX) and human-computer interaction (HCI), provides insights into self-tracking, gendered interfaces, and platform anxieties. Professional bodybuilder and PhD candidate Esat Hulus offers insights into digital self-surveillance, the pressures of aesthetics, and the emotional toll of performance metrics; his perspective is further contextualized by Dr. Erman Doğan, a sport psychologist and academic, who analyzes motivation, body image, and psychosocial dynamics within competitive sport.
The joint analysis reveals how applications, wearable devices, and social media platforms may contribute to increased self-doubt, the development of body dysmorphia, and amplified social comparison, with a particular focus on young athletes and marginalized groups. This book also offers a vision of fitness technology that prioritizes well-being over ideals of perfection, promoting a more ethical and inclusive approach to design.
This monograph integrates empirical research and cultural critique, making it suitable for scholars, students, coaches, therapists, and designers working within the evolving fields of mental health, digital identity, and embodied performance. This book delves beyond the quantitative data to explore the qualitative aspects relevant to individuals concerned with self-tracking, the influence of social media aesthetics, or technology’s role in personal growth.

Dr. Asegul ＂＂Ace＂＂ Hulus is an Assistant Professor in Computing and a global expert in AI, UX, and HCI. She is a prolific S.T.E.A.M. researcher and serves in leadership roles at ACM-W and other international bodies.
Esat Hulus is a professional bodybuilder and PhD candidate in Sports Science. He is a multi-award-winning physique competitor and integrates his academic work with high-level athletic training.
Dr. Erman Doğan is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Sports Management Department. His research focuses on sport psychology and sociology, with publications across national and international platforms.