Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Adolescents face important emotional well-being and physical inactivity challenges. Mobile applications can be useful tool to approach these issues. Our goal is to assess the adolescent experience with mobile applications designed for health and lifestyle. An exploratory study (n=41) was conducted with the focus on health promotion among adolescents. Three mobile applications for emotional well-being and physical activity were tested among 16–18 year old students. Previous experience of mobile applications use was analysed with additional follow-up of 30 days. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric methods. Results indicate health-oriented mobile applications use starts by age 12, with the most active onset from 14 to 16 years. Girls used mobile applications more actively. Among adolescents, the mobile health-oriented applications were more used for physical activity than other purposes. Boys rated their emotional well-being better than girls, while self-reported physical health and lifestyle did not differ by gender. The mobile applications use was not associated with the self-rated health and lifestyle. Students were not very keen to use mobile applications for emotional well-being. Consequenly, most students dropped out in the first days of the exploratory study because they felt the application(s) as useless and unnecessary. In conclusion, mobile applications for health are more used among girls and usually starts at age 14 to 16 years. The mobile applications use does not relate to self-rated physical state, emotional well-being or lifestyle. Students more actively use mobile applications for physical activity while the applications for emotional well-being are considered as less important.