Abstract
This original study explored college students’ mobile phone app usage, and their attitudes about the usefulness of mental health-related content in a mental health-related mobile phone app and a mobile app linked to their college. More than half of the 113 undergraduate and graduate students indicated goal-setting assistance, stress management resources, well-being information, mental health resources, and contact information of local mental health agencies would be very to extremely useful in a mobile phone app linked to their college. Campus-based mobile phone apps could provide an alternative method for students to seek mental health-related services and may improve college students’ poor help-seeking behaviors.
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This research was supported in part by a grant from the Internal Research Fund at the University of Detroit Mercy.
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Appendix A. Survey Questions
Appendix A. Survey Questions
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1.
Select below if you agree to partake in this survey.
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2.
What is your age range?
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a.
15 to 18 years
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b.
19 to 24 years
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c.
25 to 35 years
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d.
35 or older
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a.
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3.
What is your gender?
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a.
Male
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b.
Female
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c.
Other (please specify)
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a.
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4.
At what type of higher education institution are you currently enrolled?
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a.
Community college
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b.
4 year private institution
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c.
4 year public institution
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a.
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5.
What level are you at in your education?
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a.
Freshman
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b.
Sophomore
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c.
Junior
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d.
Senior
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e.
Graduate Student 1st year
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f.
Graduate Student 2nd year
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g.
Graduate Student 3rd year
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h.
Doctoral Student
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a.
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6.
In what college is your major?
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a.
Architecture
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b.
Business Administration
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c.
Dentistry
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d.
Engineering and Science
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e.
Health Professionals
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f.
Nursing
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g.
Law
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h.
Liberal Arts and Education
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a.
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7.
A smartphone (also known as a mobile phone) has internet access and allows external applications (apps) to be downloaded Do you own a smartphone?
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a.
Yes
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b.
No
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a.
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8.
Approximately how many total apps do you currently have downloaded on your smartphone?
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a.
1-4
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b.
5-9 apps
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c.
10-14 apps
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d.
15 or more apps
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e.
None
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f.
I do not own a smart phone
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a.
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9.
Approximately how many purchased apps are currently on your smartphone?
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a.
0 apps
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b.
1-4 apps
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c.
5-9 apps
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d.
10-14
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e.
15 or more apps
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f.
I do not own a smart phone
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a.
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10.
Indicate how often you use the following types of apps on yoru phone
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a.
Games
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b.
Social Media
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c.
School/Education Related
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d.
Physical Health
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e.
Well-being
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f.
Physical Fitness
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g.
Stress Management
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h.
Mental Health
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i.
Diet
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j.
Other (please specify)
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a.
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11.
A mental health-related apps is one that addresses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. How useful would you find the following in a mental health-related app?
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a.
General information about mental health issues
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b.
Crisis hotline information
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c.
Inspirational messages
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d.
Contact information of local mental health professionals
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e.
Locations of local mental health agencies
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f.
Goal-setting assistance
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g.
Online Counseling
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h.
Access to Mental Health blogs
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i.
Access to Mental Health resources (websites, videos, social media, networking, etc.)
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j.
Self Assessments with rating scales for mental health issues (e.g., stress, depression, anxiety)
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k.
Other (please specify)
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a.
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12.
How useful would access to the following be in a mobile app that was linked to your college?
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a.
General Information
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b.
Class Information/Registration
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c.
Campus Library
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d.
Knowledge/Blackboard/Canvas
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e.
Counseling Center
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f.
Stress Management Resources
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g.
Well-being Information
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h.
Mental Health Resources
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a.
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13.
Please leave feedback about the survey (e.g., is it easy to take, suggestions for improvement, etc.).
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Palmer, K.M., Henderson, S.G. College Students’ Attitudes About Mental Health-Related Content in Mobile Apps. J. technol. behav. sci. 4, 381–389 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-019-00102-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-019-00102-0