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Engagement with smartphone-delivered behavioural activation interventions: a study of the MoodMission smartphone application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 December 2020

Abby Aizenstros ,
David Bakker Open the ORCID record for David Bakker [Opens in a new window] ,
Stefan G. Hofmann ,
Joshua Curtiss  and
Nikolaos Kazantzis
Abby Aizenstros
Affiliation:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Research Unit, Monash University, Australia
David Bakker*
Affiliation:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Research Unit, Monash University, Australia Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Research Unit, Institute for Social Neuroscience, Australia
Stefan G. Hofmann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, USA
Joshua Curtiss
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, USA
Nikolaos Kazantzis
Affiliation:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Research Unit, Monash University, Australia Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Research Unit, Institute for Social Neuroscience, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: dbakker@isn.edu.au
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Abstract

Background:

Despite increased research interest in smartphone mental health applications (MHapps), few studies have examined user engagement and its determinants. MoodMission is a MHapp that targets low mood and anxiety via evidence-based techniques including behavioural activation (BA).

Aims:

The present study aimed to investigate (i) whether BA interventions delivered with visual psychoeducation had greater engagement than BA interventions delivered with solely written psychoeducation, (ii) whether BA interventions targeting mastery would have greater engagement than those targeting pleasure, and (iii) the relationship between level of engagement and MHapp benefit.

Method:

Participants downloaded MoodMission and completed activities and within-app evaluations over a 30-day period. Data from 238 MoodMission users were analysed via multi-level modelling and linear regression.

Results:

The average number of app-based activities completed was 5.46 and the average self-reported engagement level was in the low to moderate range. As hypothesized, higher levels of engagement significantly predicted more positive activity appraisal.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that BA technique beliefs are involved in MHapp engagement and future research examining user appraisals of techniques is warranted.

Keywords

appbehavioural activationengagementhomework
Type
Main
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 49 , Issue 5 , September 2021 , pp. 569 - 581
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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