JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The use of mobile and digital based interventions to address the mental health treatment gap continues to grow at a rapid pace in the U.S. While mobile interventions in other areas of health, such as HIV prevention, have been targeted through systematic research for use with Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations, relatively less digital health research has focused on addressing the specific mental health needs of SGM communities. With rising and notable disparities in mental health outcomes experienced by SGM adults, research on tailored mobile app-based mental health interventions is critically needed.

Objective:

We conducted a comprehensive literature review to summarize, synthesize, and analyze the existing research on mental health-focused mobile app-based interventions among SGM populations and elucidate critical gaps in knowledge on effectiveness and acceptability of these interventions.

Methods:

We searched literature indexed on PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in January 2023 and updated this search in October 2024. To be eligible for inclusion, articles had to be peer-reviewed, published in English, and present findings concerning the implementation or effectiveness of mobile app-based interventions that addressed mental health with a sample where a majority (>50%) of participants identified as a sexual or gender minority.

Results:

We identified 17 eligible manuscripts including: protocol papers (n=2), formative qualitative research (n=4), pilot intervention research (n=6) and intervention effectiveness research (n=5). In most studies, participants articulated an interest in mobile app-based interventions to incorporate and address mental health contents, emphasizing the importance of ease of use, privacy, the provision of specifically tailored resources to SGM individuals, and promotion of a more holistic conception of health. Evidence suggested that a well-designed intervention holds promise for improving mental health among SGM users if it addresses needs in prioritized ways including by building social support, supporting self-monitoring of mental health symptoms, providing access to diverse tools to promote overall well-being, and reflecting and affirming people’s sexual and gender identities.

Conclusions:

The existing research on mobile app-based promotion of mental health for SGM persons focused primarily on the early stages of intervention development andemphasized discovering preferences for intervention features and assessing usability and acceptability. Advancing efforts to address mental health disparities experienced by SGM communities in the United States via mobile health requires research that can not only further refine understandings of priority mental health needs for a diverse population but also rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches with input and guidance from SGM communities.