The efficacy of mobile mental health applications (mHealth apps) in reducing symptoms of anxious and depressive distress in a university population
Year: 2023
Type: dissertation
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Internet-based self-help interventions, such as mobile mental health applications (mHealth apps), \nhave the potential to enhance mental health service delivery in universities in a cost-effective \nway. However, the existing literature on mHealth apps is limited and does not sufficiently \nsupport their supposed benefits. The present study attempted to evaluate the efficacy of selfguided mHealth apps in reducing symptoms of psychological anxious distress and psychological \ndepressive distress among university students. Students (N = 77; 76.6% female; 17 to 53 years \nold) completed the Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) prior to being randomized to \n6 weeks of intervention with one of three mHealth apps marketed for reducing anxiety (DARE, \nMindshift, or Stresscoach), or an active smartphone-based control to rule out the digital placebo \neffect (Coloring Book for Adults app). After 6 weeks, students completed the HADS again as a \nfollow-up measure of app effectiveness. The results did not support the effectiveness of the \nmHealth apps in reducing anxious or depressive distress (Pillai’s Trace = .024, F(6, 146) = .290, \np = .941). However, the results suggested that over time, students’ levels of depression increased, \nirrespective of app (mean difference = -.698; 95% CI = -1.364 to -0.33). The results also \nsuggested that students with problematic levels of anxious distress at baseline experienced a \ndecrease in symptoms at follow-up, irrespective of app (mean difference = 1.696; 95% CI = .816 \nto 2.575). Conversely, students who did not report anxious distress at baseline experienced an \nincrease in anxious distress at follow-up, regardless of app (mean difference = -1.806; 95% CI = \n-2.878 to -.735).
Author: Dufoe, Jennifer
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7028142069