Table 4.
Overview of responses to survey items (N=500).
| Variable | Value | ||
| Technology ownership, n (%) | |||
|
|
Smartphone | 443 (88.6) | |
|
|
Desktop or laptop computer | 463 (92.6) | |
|
|
Tablet | 138 (27.6) | |
|
|
Mobile/cell phone but not a smartphone | 32 (6.4) | |
| Technology use, n (%) | |||
|
|
Access to Wi-Fi | 448 (89.6) | |
|
|
Access to a mobile data plan | 440 (88) | |
|
|
Use of internet constantly or many times per day | 452 (90.4) | |
| Mental health app use, n (%) | |||
|
|
Current user | 34 (6.8) | |
|
|
Past user | 72 (14.4) | |
|
|
Nonuser, interested in using apps | 199 (39.8) | |
|
|
Nonuser, not interested in using apps | 180 (36) | |
| Mental illness (self-reported), n (%) | |||
|
|
Yes | 189 (37.8) | |
|
|
No | 260 (52) | |
|
|
Prefer not to answer | 51 (10.2) | |
| Most common mental health concerns, n (%) | |||
|
|
Stress | 219 (43.8) | |
|
|
Anxiety | 207 (41.4) | |
|
|
Depression | 172 (34.4) | |
| Use of professional services in the past 12 months, n (%) | |||
|
|
Yes | 115 (23) | |
|
|
No | 374 (74.8) | |
| Perceived need to seek help, n (%) | |||
|
|
Yes | 221 (44.2) | |
|
|
No | 221 (44.2) | |
|
|
Prefer not to answer | 21 (4.2) | |
| Most common barriers to accessing mental health resources, n (%) | |||
|
|
I prefer to deal with issues on my own | 260 (52) | |
|
|
Financial reasons (eg, too expensive) | 141 (28.2) | |
|
|
I am concerned about privacy | 129 (25.8) | |
|
|
I question how serious my needs are | 126 (25.2) | |
|
|
I worry what other people will think of me | 116 (23.2) | |
| Most important aspects of using mental health apps, n (%) | |||
|
|
The app is free | 429 (85.8) | |
|
|
Personal information will be kept private | 397 (79.4) | |
|
|
No negative effect on device (eg, drain phone battery) | 264 (52.8) | |
|
|
Parts of the app can be used offline | 256 (51.2) | |
|
|
People on the app have similar mental health experiences to mine | 228 (45.6) | |
| Most common activities participants would like to do using mental health apps | |||
|
|
Work through negative emotions and thoughts | 329 (65.8) | |
|
|
Identify or recognize symptoms | 290 (58) | |
|
|
Talk with other people to get/give support | 244 (48.8) | |
|
|
Track symptoms | 239 (47.8) | |
|
|
Distract myself from negative thoughts or emotions | 228 (45.6) | |
| Stress score, mean (SD) | 21.9 (5.3)a | ||
| Stigma score, mean (SD) | 22.4 (6.2)b | ||
| Privacy score, mean (SD) | 17.8 (7.6)c | ||
| Social influence score, mean (SD) | 6.6 (3.4)d | ||
aThe score could range from 7 to 35.
bThe score could range from 4 to 36.
cThe score could range from 6 to 30.
dThe score could range from 3 to 15.