The Effects of Mobile Technology Based Support on Depressed Young Women: A Mixed-methods Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The current body of knowledge has highlighted the potential role of mobile technology as a medium to deliver support for psychological and physical health. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of support provided using mobile technology on depressive symptoms and physical activity among female university students. METHODS A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used to conduct a single-site, randomized controlled quantitative study followed by a qualitative study. A total of 99 participants were block randomized based on the severity of their depressive symptoms into three arms: an emotional and informational support group, an informational support group, and a control group. Interventions were delivered for two weeks. Data from 84 participants on the depressive symptoms and physical activity were collected at baseline, day 8, and day 15. Individual interviews of 24 participants from the three arms were conducted. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA and RMANOVA for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data. RESULTS Although significant difference was not reported in depressive symptoms over time among three groups, depressive symptoms decreased significantly at each of the time during the intervention (F=27.83, P<.001). The differences in the change in physical activity were significant among three groups over the intervention period (F=4.72, P=.01) and the degree of change differed significantly (F=2.53, P=.004). From post hoc analysis, the emotional and informational support group had a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than the control group, and a greater increase in physical activity than the control group. Analysis of interview revealed that making anonymous connections facilitated emotional stability, informational support was an instant stimulus for physical activity, continuous emotional support was the key to maintaining physical activity, and increased physical activity alleviates depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Mobile technology could be used as a medium for support for depressive symptoms and physical activity in the short term. Emotional support might be a key to maintaining physical activity.