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Mental health, self-help apps improve motivation, confidence

Individuals who used mental or emotional health apps reported increased motivation, desire to set goals and confidence.

“Our findings show that mental and emotional health focused apps have the ability to positively change behavior,” Benjamin T. Crookston, MPH, PhD, of Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, said in a press release. “This is great news for people looking for inexpensive, easily accessible resources to help combat mental and emotional health illness and challenges.”

To assess associations between theoretical behavior change mechanisms and use of mental and emotional self-help apps, researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey among 150 individuals who used mental or emotional health apps in the past 6 months.

Study participants reported that app use increased their motivation, desire to set goals, confidence, control and intentions to be mentally and emotionally healthy.

Engagement was positively associated with changes in theory items (P < .001), while perceived changes in behavior were positively associated with theory (P < .001), engagement (P = .004), frequency of app use (P = .01) and income (P = .049).

“These apps are engaging and if we can get people to use them more often, the potential certainly exists to help people change their behavior,” study researcher Joshua H. West, MPH, PhD, of Brigham Young University, said in the release. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.