Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Mar 10, 2021
Date Accepted: May 31, 2021
User perspectives on the resilience-building JoyPop app: Qualitative study.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Resilience is the capability, resources, and processes available to a person or system to adapt successfully in the face of stress or adversity. Given that resilience can be enhanced, utilizing advances in technology to deliver and evaluate the impact of resilience interventions is warranted. Evidence supports the effectiveness of the resilience-building JoyPopTM app (MacIsaac et al., 2021; Wekerle, 2019) in improving resilience-related outcomes after use; however, experiential data from users is also needed to provide a more comprehensive account of its utility.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to explore users’ experiences with the JoyPopTM app.
Methods:
This descriptive qualitative study involved a series of one-on-one and group-based semi-structured interviews with a subset of first-year undergraduate students who participated in a larger evaluation of the JoyPopTM app (MacIsaac et al., 2021). Participants had used the app for a 4-week period and were subsequently asked about their most/least used features, most/least helpful features, barriers to use, and recommendations for improvement. Data were coded and categorized through inductive content analysis.
Results:
Overall, 30 students participated. The Rate My Mood, Journaling, and SquareMoves features were reported to be used most often, while the Rate My Mood, Journaling, and Breathing Exercises were identified as most helpful. A number of themes and subthemes pertaining to facilitators of app usage (prompts, creating routine, self-monitoring opportunities, expressive opportunities), barriers to app usage (editing, lack of variety, student lifestyle), outcomes of app usage (increased awareness, checking in with oneself, helpful distraction, emotional control), and recommendations for app improvement (adding more features, enhancing existing features, enhancing tracking abilities, providing personalization) were identified.
Conclusions:
This study provides insight into aspects of the JoyPopTM app that motivated and benefitted users, as well as what can be done to improve user experiences and promote longer-term uptake. Users were willing to engage with the app and incorporate it into their routine, while valuing the ability to self-monitor, express emotion, and engage in distraction.
Citation
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