Mobile opportunity against stress: Open study protocol on the effectiveness of a mobile platform for stress self-management in the post-pandemic era

Abstract

Mobile health platforms have shown promise in the management of various mental health conditions (including stress, anxiety, and depression) and cognitive behavioral strategies emerged as a popular and effective option offered by the platforms. This paper presents the protocol of a study aimed to test the effectiveness of a mobile platform that uses cognitive-behavioral strategies for stress self-management in the Tuscany region (Italy). The mobile app is adapted to the specific needs of each vulnerable population for which it is designed: young and older people, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs. The app will be evaluated on the following outcomes: (i) perceived susceptibility and severity of the pandemic situation, perceived benefits, and costs of preventive health behaviors, (ii) knowledge about Covid-19 preventive behaviors and negative consequences of social distancing, (iii) stress and psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms) and cognitive distortions. If successful, we expect that the platform could give various groups clinical benefits by providing symptom self-monitoring and early intervention, consolidating the number of mental health programs available, and decreasing barriers to treatment-seeking. This population-level approach has the potential to improve mental health outcomes in pandemic periods for many people.

Prospectando qualidades relacionais na educação em Design através da quilt-terapia

“…Embora múltiplas pessoas jovens tenham facilidade de manter interações sociais online (POZZA et al, 2023), Nia e Jia (2023) dizem que as interações pessoais (ou seja, presenciais, sem a mediação de sistemas) são cruciais para melhorar e manter o bem-estar, a saúde mental e física. Por exemplo, em relação ao trabalho, Yao et al (2023) reportam que o uso excessivo de tecnologia pós-pandemia pode ter aumentado a procrastinação.…”