User Engagement and Wellbeing: The Role of Digital Self-Monitoring in Mental Health Support

Growing global concerns around mental health require innovative and adaptive solutions. Technological support tools such as web applications provide an opportunity for such innovation, but even the most efficacious platform is limited by its ability to promote user engagement. This study explored the impact of user engagement in technology-supported self-monitoring for wellbeing in a cohort (N=196) of university undergraduate students. We aimed to identify an efficient measurement model for daily wellbeing, examining the impact of optimizing user-centered design to promote engagement and enhance user experience. To this end, participants were randomly assigned to either a passive control condition or to one of two daily self-reflection conditions. Self-reflection prompts were delivered using either an online questionnaire platform (Qualtrics), or an app designed specifically to engage users in wellbeing reflection (UpBeing). Results indicated that including general appraisal items alongside momentary affect assessment improved model fit compared to affect measurement alone. Furthermore, wellbeing-centered design (UpBeing) significantly enhanced self-reported wellbeing compared to both Qualtrics and the control conditions, accompanied by decreased negative mood and improved decentering skills. These findings suggest that app-based self-reflection tools like UpBeing can effectively support individuals’ wellbeing and coping abilities in daily life. Analysis of user experience reports suggested that the design of the UpBeing app likely contributed to its superior performance. Given that many apps only measure affect/mood without general appraisals of wellbeing, the study highlights the importance of validating measurements models in wellbeing support tools. While research into longitudinal and clinical outcomes is needed, implementing user-centered design in mental health support tools may be a promising method for enhancing health benefits through increased user engagement.