Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Kim, Jane Paik
• Sadeh‐Sharvit, Shiri
• Welch, Hannah A.
• Neri, Eric
• Tregarthen, Jenna
• Lock, James

Titel

Eating disorders early app use mediates treatment effect on clinical improvement

Ist Teil von

• The International journal of eating disorders, 2022-03, Vol.55 (3), p.382-387

Ort / Verlag

Hoboken, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

EBSCOhost Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective Eating disorders (EDs) contribute considerably to the global burden of disease. However, most affected individuals do not receive treatment. Mobile apps present an enormous opportunity to increase access to mental healthcare services. This study examined whether the degree of usage of a self‐help app for EDs mediated the app's effects on the clinical response by individuals with EDs. Method App usage measures included the total number of cognitive‐behavioral meal logs, total number of days spent using the app, and the last day the app was used during the study period. Mediation analysis was performed using the MacArthur framework. Results All usage variables met the analytic requirements for testing mediation (group means (sd) for app and standard app, respectively: logs = 74 (108) vs. 51.4 (88.1), days spent = 14.3 (17.5) vs. 10.6 (15.0), p‐values from Wilcox rank sum tests p < .01). Regression coefficients indicated mediation effects. The mediation effects demonstrated support that increased engagement (as measured by logs and time spent on the app) was related to an increased likelihood of achieving a significant clinical change by the end of the trial. Discussion Greater and longer engagement in an ED app mediates its efficacy in terms of ED remission.