ArticleJMIR mental health2019
Young People's Response to Six Smartphone Apps for Anxiety and Depression: Focus Group Study.
Article in JMIR mental health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
42 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Generative AI in Youth Mental Health Apps: Rapid Review.JMIR mental health · 2026Pooled it
- Characteristics of Mobile Health Platforms for Depression and Anxiety: Content Analysis Through a Systematic Review of the Literature and Systematic Search of Two App Stores.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Pooled it
- Quality Social Connection as an Active Ingredient in Digital Interventions for Young People With Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Scoping Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Barriers to and Facilitators of User Engagement With Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Evaluating the use of multimedia information when recruiting adolescents to orthodontics research: A randomised controlled trial.Journal of orthodontics · 2021Trial
- Effectiveness and Usability of Digital Slow Breathing and Detached Mindfulness Interventions in Late Adolescents: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Young adults' perceptions and experiences in using mobile apps and wearables for health: a qualitative study with public involvement.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Adolescents' and youths' perceived barriers and facilitators to engaging with digital mental health interventions for depression and anxiety: A scoping review.Internet interventions · 2025Review
- A Prompt Engineering Framework for Large Language Model-Based Mental Health Chatbots: Conceptual Framework.JMIR mental health · 2025Article
- Developing a Safety Planning Smartphone App to Support Adolescents' Self-Management During Emotional Crises.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Health Care Workers' Experience With a Psychological Self-Monitoring App During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- mHealth Applications for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Current Landscape, Challenges, and Future Directions.Current psychiatry reports · 2025Review
- Recommendations for the Development of Psychological Smartphone Applications in the Context of Bariatric Surgery: Focus Groups with Professionals and Patients.Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings · 2025Article
- Health-Promoting Effects and Everyday Experiences With a Mental Health App Using Ecological Momentary Assessments and AI-Based Ecological Momentary Interventions Among Young People: Qualitative Interview and Focus Group Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- Evaluation of the Clear Fear Smartphone App for Young People Experiencing Anxiety: Uncontrolled Pre- and Post-Follow-Up Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Article
- Preferences and perceived barriers for internet-based treatment among adolescents with anxiety or depressive disorders: A qualitative study.Internet interventions · 2024Article
- Children and young people's preferences and needs when using health technology to self-manage a long-term condition: a scoping review.Archives of disease in childhood · 2024Article
- Exploring Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Mental Health Apps: Concurrent Mixed Methods Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- User-Centered Design of a Gamified Mental Health App for Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: Multicycle Usability Testing Study.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSuicide is one of the most frequent causes of death in young people worldwide. Depression lies at the root of this issue, a condition that has a significant negative impact on the lives of those who experience it and on society more generally. However, 80% of affected young people do not obtain professional help for depression and other mental health issues. Therefore, a key challenge is to find innovative and appealing ways to engage young people in learning to manage their mental health. Research suggests that young people prefer to access anonymous Web-based programs rather than get face-to-face help, which has led to the development of numerous smartphone apps. However, the evidence indicates that not all of these apps are effective in engaging the interest of young people who are most in need of help.
objectiveThe study aimed to investigate young people's response to six currently available smartphone apps for mental health and to identify features that young people like and dislike in such apps.
methodsFocus groups were conducted with 23 young people aged 13 to 25 years in which they viewed and used six smartphone apps for mental health. A general inductive approach following a realist paradigm guided data analysis.
resultsThe results revealed that young people value autonomy and the opportunity to personalize experiences with these apps above other things. Finding a balance between simplicity and informativeness is also an important factor.
conclusionsApp developers need to consider using participant-design frameworks to ensure that smartphone apps are providing what young people want in a mental health app. Solutions to the need for personalization and increasing user engagement are also crucially needed.
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