JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mobile mental health (MH) apps are increasingly promoted as tools for self-care. However, less is known about how users integrate them into everyday life and how they combine with other forms of support.

Objective:

This qualitative study examined what motivates individuals to adopt MH apps and how these tools are used alongside other care practices.

Methods:

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 Czech MH app users aged 18-56 (24 women) and analyzed the data with a reflexive thematic analysis.

Results:

We identified three motivational patterns for MH app use: regular use to maintain well-being and support preventive self-care; reactive use during periods of acute distress; and temporary, problem-focused use aimed at understanding or addressing a specific difficulty. Engagement evolved along four trajectories: emancipation, with apps acting as ongoing support for self‑care when therapy is reduced/ended; independence, as techniques are transferred and used without the app; reliance, where users persist with app‑based self‑care despite insufficient benefit, occasionally delaying or limiting other forms of help; and episodic use, characterized by intermittent usage during specific life periods. The study identified tensions and unintended effects, including the burden of sustaining engagement, the risks of over-reliance, the emotional costs of sustained inward focus, and the tensions between digital self-care and efforts to limit screen time.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that appropriate disengagement can signal a successful transfer of skills to daily life. App design and policy should acknowledge episodic use and strengthen connections to human support with clear guidance and accessible pathways to additional care when needed.