Female Youth and Mental Health Service Providers' Perspectives on the JoyPop™ App: a Qualitative Study

Overview

Journal Front Digit Health

Specialty Medical Informatics

Date 2023 Oct 13

PMID 37829596

Authors

Ishaq Malik

Arnaldo Perez

Elaine Toombs

Fred Schmidt

Janine V Olthuis

Jaidyn Charlton

Elizabeth Grassia

Crystal Squier

Kristine Stasiuk

Tina Bobinski

Aislin R Mushquash

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile health (mHealth) apps are a promising adjunct to traditional mental health services, especially in underserviced areas. Developed to foster resilience in youth, the JoyPop™ app has a growing evidence base showing improvement in emotion regulation and mental health symptoms among youth. However, whether this novel technology will be accepted among those using or providing mental health services remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the JoyPop™ app's acceptance among (a) a clinical sample of youth and (b) mental health service providers.

Method: A qualitative descriptive approach involving one-on-one semi-structured interviews was conducted. Interviews were guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and were analyzed using a deductive-inductive content analysis approach.

Results: All youth (= 6 females; = 14.60, range 12-17) found the app easy to learn and use and expressed positive feelings towards using the app. Youth found the app useful because it facilitated accessibility to helpful coping skills (e.g., journaling to express their emotions; breathing exercises to increase calmness) and positive mental health outcomes (e.g., increased relaxation and reduced stress). All service providers (= 7 females; = 43.75, range 32-60) perceived the app to be useful and easy to use by youth within their services and expressed positive feelings about integrating the app into usual care. Service providers also highlighted various organizational factors affecting the app's acceptance. Youth and service providers raised some concerns about apps in general and provided recommendations to improve the JoyPop™ app.

Discussion: Results support youth and service providers' acceptance of the JoyPop™ app and lend support for it as an adjunctive resource to traditional mental health services for youth with emotion regulation difficulties.

Citing Articles

Acceptance of a mental health app (JoyPop) for postsecondary students: a prospective evaluation using the UTAUT2.

Malik I, Mushquash A Front Digit Health. 2025; 7:1503428.

PMID: 40041123 PMC: 11876143. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2025.1503428.

Increasing Access to Mental Health Supports for 18- to 25-Year-Old Indigenous Youth With the JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

MacIsaac A, Neufeld T, Malik I, Toombs E, Olthuis J, Schmidt F JMIR Res Protoc. 2025; 14:e64745.

PMID: 39883939 PMC: 11826949. DOI: 10.2196/64745.

Identifying the Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Emotion Regulation Among Youth Using the JoyPop App: Survey Study.

Charlton J, Malik I, Ashley A, Newton A, Toombs E, Schmidt F JMIR Form Res. 2025; 9:e64483.

PMID: 39847426 PMC: 11803318. DOI: 10.2196/64483.

Promoting mental health and wellbeing among post-secondary students with the JoyPop™ app: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

MacIsaac A, Mann V, Toombs E, Schmidt F, Olthuis J, Stewart S Trials. 2024; 25(1):576.

PMID: 39223596 PMC: 11367905. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08424-y.

Increasing access to mental health supports for 12-17-year-old Indigenous youth with the JoyPop mobile mental health app: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Mushquash A, Neufeld T, Malik I, Toombs E, Olthuis J, Schmidt F Trials. 2024; 25(1):234.

PMID: 38575945 PMC: 10993577. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08076-y.

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