Currently accepted at: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: May 13, 2026
Date Accepted: Nov 11, 2026
This paper has been accepted and is currently in production.
It will appear shortly on 10.2196/101184
The final accepted version (not copyedited yet) is in this tab.
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Effectiveness and Use of mHealth Apps for Health Behavior Change among Low-SES and Migrant Populations in Europe: A Scoping Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasingly strain European health systems and disproportionately affect lower-SES groups and people with migration backgrounds. Addressing modifiable behaviors such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use is warranted. While mobile health (mHealth) is promising for promoting healthy lifestyles, its effectiveness and uptake among these populations remain underexplored.
Objective:
The objective of this review is to map existing evidence on the effectiveness and use of mHealth, as well as the facilitators and barriers of app use for promoting healthy behaviors among European populations with low SES and migration backgrounds.
Methods:
A scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Databases were searched in August 2024 and July 2025: Medline, Embase, Web of Science. A total of 1674 articles were screened for title/abstract and 203 for full-text screening by two researchers independently.
Results:
Of the 22 included studies, 5 reported on effectiveness, 15 on app use, and 8 on facilitators and barriers. Findings on effectiveness and use were mixed across studies. Identified barriers included limited digital literacy, cultural misalignment, and lack of human interaction, while facilitators related to engaging app design, coaching, and social support features.
Conclusions:
Evidence on the effectiveness and use of mHealth apps among low-SES and migrant populations is mixed and limited. For people with a migration background, evidence is largely lacking. More research is needed, and app developers are encouraged to consider the specific barriers and facilitators relevant to these groups. Clinical Trial: This study is registered in OSF Registries osf.io/bvcnx; https://osf.io/bvcnx/
Citation
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Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.