Persuasive design in mobile applications for mental well-being: Multidisciplinary expert review

Abstract

Smartphones are a promising channel for health promotion interventions. Mobile applications can track behaviour and provide real-time guidance and support. Research on mobile interventions has mainly focused on physical health and disease management, whereas promotion of mental wellbeing has received less attention. This paper presents results of a multidisciplinary expert review of twelve currently available mobile applications for mental well-being. The aim of the study was to identify what kinds of engaging and persuasive features are used in the applications and to assess how well the features were implemented. The expert reviews were carried out from user acceptance, mobile intervention design, and persuasive design points of view. Current applications were assessed moderately good from all three perspectives but improvement needs were identified in more versatile utilisation of mobile technology, leveraging social support, and providing a wider range of personalized intervention features. © Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2013.