Use of Smartphone Apps, Social Media, and Web-Based Resources to Support Mental Health and Well-Being: Online Survey

Use of Smartphone Apps, Social Media, and Web-Based Resources to Support Mental Health and Well-Being: Online Survey
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DOI:
10.2196/12546
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发表时间:
2019-07-12
期刊:
影响因子:
5.2
通讯作者:
Coyle, David
Coyle, David
中科院分区:
医学2区
文献类型:
--
作者:
Stawarz, Katarzyna;Preist, Chris;Coyle, David

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背景:技术可以在支持心理健康方面发挥重要作用。许多研究探讨了不同类型的心理健康技术的有效性、可接受性或使用背景。然而,现有的研究往往一次调查单一类型的技术,而不是探索人们可能使用的更广泛的生态系统。这种狭隘的关注可能会限制我们对如何最好地设计心理健康技术的理解。目的:这项研究的目的是调查哪些技术(智能手机应用程序、论坛和社交媒体,以及网站和基于网络的程序)人们用来支持他们的心理健康,以及为什么,他们是否联合收割机和使用一种以上的技术,每种技术服务的目的,方法:我们进行了一项在线调查,以收集使用技术来支持他们的心理健康和幸福的公众成员的回复。该调查在社交媒体上和一所大学的海报上做了广告。它探讨了使用模式、常用功能以及与技术的互动。为了更深入地了解用户的偏好,我们还按主题分析了受访者对每种技术类型的开放式评论和改进建议。结果:共有81名合格参与者完成了调查。智能手机应用程序是最常用的技术,78%的参与者(63/81)单独使用(40%)或与其他技术结合使用(38%)。每种技术都有特定的用途:应用程序提供指导活动,放松和启用跟踪;社交媒体和讨论论坛允许参与者从他人的经验中学习,并利用这些知识来了解自己的情况;基于Web的程序和网站有助于了解如何处理日常的压力和焦虑。对开放式答复的分析表明,尽管许多人重视技术,认为它可以支持有针对性的活动,但它并不被视为传统面对面治疗的替代品。参与者希望技术更加复杂和细致入微,支持个性化和可操作的建议。有证据表明,参与者不信任技术,无论类型,并有更广泛的关注过度使用technology.Conclusions的影响:人们使用不同类型的技术,以支持他们的心理健康。每一个都可以服务于一个特定的目的。虽然应用程序是最广泛使用的技术,但混合和匹配不同类型的技术也很常见。技术不应被视为传统心理治疗的替代品,相反,它提供了支持心理健康的新机会,作为整个生态系统的一部分。人们希望技术更加细致入微和个性化,以帮助他们规划明智的行动。未来的干预措施应探索多种技术的使用及其对心理健康支持的综合影响。
Background: Technology can play an important role in supporting mental health. Many studies have explored the effectiveness, acceptability, or context of use of different types of mental health technologies. However, existing research has tended to investigate single types of technology at a time rather than exploring a wider ecosystem that people may use. This narrow focus can limit our understanding of how we could best design mental health technologies.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate which technologies (smartphone apps, discussion forums and social media, and websites and Web-based programs) people use to support their mental health and why, whether they combine and use more than one technology, what purpose each technology serves, and which features people find the most valuable.Methods: We conducted an online survey to gather responses from members of the public who use technology to support their mental health and well-being. The survey was advertised on social media and via posters at a university. It explored usage patterns, frequently used features, and engagement with technology. To gain deeper insights into users' preferences, we also thematically analyzed open-ended comments about each technology type and suggestions for improvements provided by the respondents.Results: In total, 81 eligible participants completed the survey. Smartphone apps were the most commonly used technology, with 78% of the participants (63/81) using them, either alone (40%) or in combination with other technologies (38%). Each type of technology was used for specific purposes: apps provided guided activities, relaxation, and enabled tracking; social media and discussion forums allowed participants to learn from the experiences of others and use that knowledge to understand their own situation; and Web-based programs and websites helped to find out how to deal on a day-to-day basis with stress and anxiety. The analysis of open-ended responses showed that although many people valued technology and felt it could support targeted activities, it was not seen as a substitute for traditional face-to-face therapy. Participants wanted technology to be more sophisticated and nuanced, supporting personalized and actionable recommendations. There was evidence that participants mistrusted technology, irrespective of the type, and had broader concerns regarding the impact of overuse of technology.Conclusions: People use different types of technology to support their mental health. Each can serve a specific purpose. Although apps are the most widely used technology, mixing and matching different types of technology is also common. Technology should not be seen as a replacement for traditional psychotherapy, rather it offers new opportunities to support mental health as part of an overall ecosystem. People want technology to be more nuanced and personalized to help them plan informed actions. Future interventions should explore the use of multiple technologies and their combined effects on mental health support.