iCare: Insights from the Evaluation of an App for Managing Stress Among Working-Class Indian Women

Abstract

Persuasive Technologies (PTs) are widely used for managing stress and improving well-being. PTs could contribute to the effort toward equality by making mental healthcare more accessible, even among underserved communities. However, most existing persuasive applications (apps) focus on designing for people in developed countries. Therefore, to address this gap, this paper presents the evaluation of iCare, a mobile health (mHealth) app for managing stress and improving well-being among an underserved population—the working-class Indian women. Specifically, we combined the power of mobile health and PTs to design the iCare app. To evaluate the effectiveness of iCare for stress management, 30 participants were recruited to use the app for two weeks and completed a post-test questionnaire about their experience followed by an optional interview with 22 participants to uncover additional insights. Quantitative questionnaire data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative interview data was analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results showed that the iCare app was perceived as highly motivational, persuasive, and useful. Also, results show that using the iCare app brought significant positive changes by helping participants to better manage their stress and anxiety. We contribute to HCI research and practice by offering guidelines and insights for designing technologies for people from underserved communities.

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