Did Usage of Mental Health Apps Change during COVID-19? A Comparative Study Based on an Objective Recording of Usage Data and Demographics

Abstract

This paper aims to objectively compare the use of mental health apps between the pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 periods and to study differences amongst the users of these apps based on age and gender. The study utilizes a dataset collected through a smartphone app that objectively records the users’ sessions. The dataset was analyzed to identify users of mental health apps (38 users of mental health apps pre-COVID-19 and 81 users during COVID-19) and to calculate the following usage metrics; the daily average use time, the average session time, the average number of launches, and the number of usage days. The mental health apps were classified into two categories: guidance-based and tracking-based apps. The results include the increased number of users of mental health apps during the COVID-19 period as compared to pre-COVID-19. Adults (aged 24 and above), compared to emerging adults (aged 15–24 years), were found to have a higher usage of overall mental health apps and guidance-based mental health apps. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, males were found to be more likely to launch overall mental health apps and guidance-based mental health apps compared to females. The findings from this paper suggest that despite the increased usage of mental health apps amongst males and adults, user engagement with mental health apps remained minimal. This suggests the need for these apps to work towards improved user engagement and retention.

Implementing Longitudinal Wellbeing Interventions and Evaluation Among Midwestern Healthcare Workers During COVID-19

“…This finding is consistent with a study of mental health app use in 10 countries from October 2020 to April 2021. 36 During that period, which coincides with the T3 and T4 assessment periods, an increased use of mental health apps was identified among adults. Interestingly, these researchers found that despite increases in app launching, engagement in these apps did not increase, meaning that users may not have found the time or maintained interest in the apps.…”

“…Interestingly, these researchers found that despite increases in app launching, engagement in these apps did not increase, meaning that users may not have found the time or maintained interest in the apps. 36 Duration of engagement and satisfaction with apps was beyond the scope of this study.…”

The Electronic Mental Wellness Tool as a Self-Administered Brief Screening Instrument for Mental Disorders in the General Spanish Population during the Post-COVID-19 Era

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased number of users of mental health apps was also reported compared to prior to the pandemic. Male adults, who are less likely to access mental health services, were more likely to launch mental health apps compared to females [ 53 ]. Importantly, in spite of the usage increase, user engagement remained minimal.…”

A Deep Dive into the Nexus between Digital Health and Life Sciences Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Editorial Expedition

“…All the other studies [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] have dealt with the use of DH in the life sciences, which, in addition to bioengineering, touched by all, have examined, from time to time, other categories ( Table 1 ), such as Anatomy [ 8 , 11 ], Bioinformatics [ 14 , 16 ], Cell biology [ 8 , 11 ], Neuroscience [ 8 , 12 , 15 , 17 , 20 ], Physiology [ 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 ], Population biology [ 14 , 16 , 18 , 19 ], and others that are shown in Table 1 .…”

“…The importance and the impact of mental health monitoring through self-monitoring apps was addressed in a study reported in [ 17 ].…”