Article Gold Open Access 2022

Apprentices’ Attitudes Toward Using a Mental Health Mobile App to Support Healthy Coping: Mixed Methods Study

CI
Choi, Isabella
 PK
Petrie, Katherine
 ER
Einboden, Rochelle
 CD
Collins, Daniel A.J.
 RR
Ryan, Rose
 JD
Johnston, David A.
 HS
Harvey, Samuel B.
 GN
Glozier, Nick S.
 WA
Wray, Alexis
 DM
Deady, Mark
JMIR Human Factors
Journal · Vol. 9 · Issue 3 · Art. e35661
Abstract

Background: Apprenticeships are a common pathway for young people transitioning into the workforce. Apprentices often face many employment-related challenges and have high levels of psychological distress, drug and alcohol use, and suicidal ideation. Little is known about the attitudes of apprentices toward using smartphone apps to support their mental health and the content that would engage them. Objective: This study explored (1) apprentices’ interest in using an app to support their mental health and (2) the healthy coping strategies used to manage their mental well-being in the face of workplace challenges, in order to inform future app content. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted with 54 apprentices (50/54 male, 93%) with a mean age of 22.7 (SD 5.7) years. Participants completed a survey on preferred ways of using an app to support mental health. Across 8 focus groups, participants were asked to describe healthy strategies they used to cope with occupational stressors. Results: Only 11% (6/54) of participants currently used a well-being app, but there was high interest in using an app to support their friends (47/54 participants, 87%) and develop self-help strategies to manage or prevent mental health issues (42/54 participants, 78%). Four major types of coping behaviors were identified: (1) social connection for disclosure, advice, and socializing; (2) pleasurable activities, such as engaging in hobbies, time-outs, and developing work-life separation; (3) cognitive approaches, including defusing from thoughts and cognitive reframing; and (4) self-care approaches, including exercise, a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep. Conclusions: There is interest among apprentices to use an app with a positive well-being focus that helps them to develop self-management skills and support their friends. Apprentices utilized a range of healthy behaviors to cope with workplace stressors that can be incorporated into mental health apps to improve uptake and engagement. However, many of the preferred coping strategies identified are not those focused on by currently available apps, indicating the need for more targeted digital interventions for this group. ©Isabella Choi, Katherine Petrie, Rochelle Einboden, Daniel Collins, Rose Ryan, David Johnston, Samuel B Harvey, Nicholas Glozier, Alexis Wray, Mark Deady.

Keywords

Author Keywords

coping strategies apprentice Mental health Wellbeing Focus group app coping behaviour

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
UNSW Medicine, Kensington, NSW, Australia
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Faculty of Health Sciences, Université d'Ottawa Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, École des Sciences Infirmières, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Safe Work Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Funding & Acknowledgements
Australian Government
This study was funded by a University of New South Wales-University of Sydney Mental Wellbeing Scheme, SafeWork New South Wales, and the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research (AFFIRM) Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the support of industry partners, including (but not limited to) Apprenticeship Support Australia, My Gateway, and Electro Group. SBH and MD are supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the study was being conducted, KP was supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, KP was supported by a research training scholarship from the Australian Government and by the National Mental Health Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1152952). At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, IC and NG were supported (partially or fully) by the Australian government through the Australian Research Council\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).
icare Foundation, icare
This study was funded by a University of New South Wales-University of Sydney Mental Wellbeing Scheme, SafeWork New South Wales, and the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research (AFFIRM) Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the support of industry partners, including (but not limited to) Apprenticeship Support Australia, My Gateway, and Electro Group. SBH and MD are supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the study was being conducted, KP was supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, KP was supported by a research training scholarship from the Australian Government and by the National Mental Health Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1152952). At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, IC and NG were supported (partially or fully) by the Australian government through the Australian Research Council\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).
NSW Ministry of Health
This study was funded by a University of New South Wales-University of Sydney Mental Wellbeing Scheme, SafeWork New South Wales, and the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research (AFFIRM) Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the support of industry partners, including (but not limited to) Apprenticeship Support Australia, My Gateway, and Electro Group. SBH and MD are supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the study was being conducted, KP was supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, KP was supported by a research training scholarship from the Australian Government and by the National Mental Health Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1152952). At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, IC and NG were supported (partially or fully) by the Australian government through the Australian Research Council\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).
Australian Research Council, ARC
Grant: CE200100025
This study was funded by a University of New South Wales-University of Sydney Mental Wellbeing Scheme, SafeWork New South Wales, and the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research (AFFIRM) Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the support of industry partners, including (but not limited to) Apprenticeship Support Australia, My Gateway, and Electro Group. SBH and MD are supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the study was being conducted, KP was supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, KP was supported by a research training scholarship from the Australian Government and by the National Mental Health Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1152952). At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, IC and NG were supported (partially or fully) by the Australian government through the Australian Research Council\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).
Australian Research Council, ARC
This study was funded by a University of New South Wales-University of Sydney Mental Wellbeing Scheme, SafeWork New South Wales, and the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research (AFFIRM) Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the support of industry partners, including (but not limited to) Apprenticeship Support Australia, My Gateway, and Electro Group. SBH and MD are supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the study was being conducted, KP was supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, KP was supported by a research training scholarship from the Australian Government and by the National Mental Health Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1152952). At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, IC and NG were supported (partially or fully) by the Australian government through the Australian Research Council\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).
Grant: GNT1152952
This study was funded by a University of New South Wales-University of Sydney Mental Wellbeing Scheme, SafeWork New South Wales, and the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research (AFFIRM) Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the support of industry partners, including (but not limited to) Apprenticeship Support Australia, My Gateway, and Electro Group. SBH and MD are supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the study was being conducted, KP was supported by funding from the iCare Foundation and New South Wales Health. At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, KP was supported by a research training scholarship from the Australian Government and by the National Mental Health Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (GNT1152952). At the time the final manuscript was being prepared, IC and NG were supported (partially or fully) by the Australian government through the Australian Research Council\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).
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