Desired Features of a Digital Technology Tool for Self-Management of Well-Being in a Nonclinical Sample of Young People: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BackgroundAdaptive coping behaviours can improve wellbeing for young people experiencing life stressors while maladaptive coping can increase vulnerability to mental health problems in youth and into adulthood. Given that young people are keen users of digital resources, they could potentially benefit from the use of digital technology tools if the latter could help enhance their coping skills and overcome barriers in help-seeking behaviours. However, while there is relatively limited evidence in support of the efficacy of current digital technology tools in improving wellbeing, little is known about the current and desired digital technology use for self-management of wellbeing among young people in the general population. ObjectiveThe first research question of the present study involved exploring how young people currently use digital technology in order to self-manage their wellbeing. The second research question looked into what young people desire from digital technology tools for the management of their wellbeing. MethodsYoung people aged 12-18 were recruited from the general community to take part in semi-structured interviews. Data from the interviews were transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsFourteen participants were recruited, with a mean age of 14.6 (3/14 female). None of the participants reported using any digital tools specifically designed to manage wellbeing. However, the two themes emerging with regard to the first research question showed that young people use digital technology to destress and manage their mood, mainly through games, music and videos. Regarding the second research question, themes overall indicated that young people were keen on using such tools and were centred around the content and features of an ideal tool. The 3 themes relative to the content indicated that young people wanted a tool that immerses them in a stressfree environment, is uplifting and directs them to resources based on their needs. The 3 featurebased themes suggested that young people wanted the tool to be flexible, to enable engagement with others but to also be sensitive to privacy. ConclusionsThe young people did not report engaging with digital technology specialised to improve wellbeing but instead used media already accessed in their daily lives. As a result, the variety of coping strategies reported was limited to the digital resources used for recreational and social purposes. Less adaptive strategies included distraction techniques whilst more adaptive coping reflected emotion regulation efforts and active support seeking. These same coping strategies were also desired in an ideal tool which would nonetheless have to be more flexible and more interactive but at the same time more sensitive to privacy. The present study contributes to the scarce research into young people's preferred use of digital technology tools for the purposes of self-management of wellbeing. FundingThis work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/J500100/1]. Keyw...