The factors influencing the adoption of mental health applications

Abstract

Mental illnesses are a growing issue nowadays. According to the World Health Organization, the gap between the need for treatment for mental disorders and the accessibility of treatment is widening. One potential solution to making treatment more accessible is mental health apps. In recent years, mental health apps have been essential tools for providing healthcare services at an affordable cost. Despite the effectiveness and benefits of new technologies, the uptake of these apps remains a challenge, especially in Europe compared to the US. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of mental health apps. To this end, a conceptual framework based on the UTAUT2 and the HBM was developed, which was tested using a quantitative study. For operationalization, 309 participants aged between 18 and 70 years old were collected through an online questionnaire. The results show that all of the tested factors impact behavioral intention. The determinants that stand out are performance expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, and cues to action, which significantly affect the behavioral choice to use a mental health application. The findings lead to implications for promoting and developing greater adoption of mental health apps.