JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Despite the high prevalence of anxiety and depression among young adults, many do not seek formal treatment. Some may turn to digital mental health tools for support instead, including self-tracking moods, behaviors, and other variables related to mental health. Researchers have sought to understand processes and motivations involved in self-tracking, but few have considered the specific needs and preferences of young adults seeking to use self-tracking to support mental health.

Objective:

The study seeks to assess the types of experiences non-treatment engaged young adults have had with digital self-tracking for mood and other mental health data, and to assess how non-treatment seeking young adults want to engage in self-tracking to support their mental health.

Methods:

We conducted two online asynchronous discussion groups with N=50 young adults aged 18-25 who were not engaged in treatment. Participants were recruited after indicating moderate to severe symptoms of depression or anxiety on screening surveys hosted on the website of Mental Health America. Participants who enrolled in the study responded anonymously to discussion prompts on a message board, as well as to each other’s responses, and three coders performed a thematic analysis of their responses.

Results:

Participants had mixed experiences with self-tracking in the past, including disliking when tracking highlighted unwanted behaviors, and discontinuing tracking for a variety of reasons. They had more positive past experiences tracking behaviors and tasks they wanted to increase, using open-ended journaling, and with gamified elements to increase motivation. Participants highlighted several design considerations they wanted self-tracking tools to address: building self-understanding; organization, reminders, and structure; and simplifying the self-tracking experience. Participants wanted self-tracking to help them identify their feelings and how their feelings related to other variables like sleep, exercise, and events in their lives. Many participants also highlighted self-tracking as useful for motivating and supporting basic activities and tasks of daily living during periods of overwhelm or low mood, and providing a sense of accomplishment and stability. Although self-tracking can be burdensome, participants were interested and provided suggestions for simplifying the process.

Conclusions:

Non-treatment engaged young adults may use self-tracking to build self-understanding as a goal in and of itself, or as a first step in contemplating and preparing for behavior change or treatment seeking. Alexithymia, amotivation, and overwhelm may serve both as barriers to self-tracking and opportunities for self-tracking to help.