What’s in your card? The impact of online food delivery apps on depression and eating behaviors

BackgroundDespite high rates of smartphone ownership in psychiatric populations, there are very little data available characterizing smartphone use in individuals with mental illness. In particular, few studies have examined the interest and use of smartphones to support mental health.ObjectiveThis study aimed to (1) characterize general smartphone app and social media usage in an acute transdiagnostic psychiatric sample with high smartphone ownership, (2) characterize current engagement and interest in the use of smartphone apps to support mental health, and (3) test demographic and clinical predictors of smartphone use.MethodsThe survey was completed by all patients attending an adult partial hospital program, with no exclusion criteria. The primary outcomes were frequency of use of general and mental health smartphone apps (smartphone use survey) and the frequency of social media use and phone-checking behavior (mobile technology engagement scale).ResultsOverall, 322 patients (aged mean 33.49, SD 13.87 years; 57% female) reported that their most frequently used app functions were texting, email, and social media. Younger individuals reported more frequent use across most types of apps. Baseline depression and anxiety symptoms were not associated with the frequency of app use. Participants reported health care, calendar, and texting apps as most supportive of their mental health and social media apps as most negatively affecting their mental health. Most patients reported an interest in (73.9% [238/322]) and willingness to use (81.3% [262/322]) a smartphone app to monitor their mental health condition. Less than half (44%) of the patients currently had a mental health app downloaded on their smartphone, with mindfulness and meditation apps being the most common type.ConclusionsThe high interest in and willingness to use mental health apps, paired with the only moderate current reported usage, indicate a potential unmet treatment opportunity in psychiatric populations. There is potential to optimize non-mental health–specific apps to better support the needs of those with mental illness and to design a new wave of mental health apps that match the needs of these populations as well as the way they use smartphones in daily life.

Are the adverse consequences of cannabis use age-dependent?

Use of Psychoactive Substances and Health Care in Response to Anxiety and Depressive Disorders

BackgroundMental and emotional self-help apps have emerged as potential mental illness prevention and treatment tools. The health behavior theory mechanisms by which these apps influence mental health–related behavior change have not been thoroughly examined.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the association between theoretical behavior change mechanisms and use of mental and emotional self-help apps and whether the use of such apps is associated with mental health behaviors.MethodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional survey of 150 users of mental or emotional health apps in the past 6 months. Survey questions included theory-based items, app engagement and likeability items, and behavior change items. Stata version 14 was used to calculate all statistics. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each of the demographic, theory, engagement, and behavior variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with reported changes in theory and separately for reported changes in actual behavior after controlling for potentially confounding variables.ResultsParticipants reported that app use increased their motivation, desire to set goals, confidence, control, and intentions to be mentally and emotionally healthy. Engagement (P<.001) was positively associated with the reported changes in theory items, whereas perceived behavior change was positively associated with theory (P<.001), engagement (P=.004), frequency of use of apps (P=.01), and income (P=.049).ConclusionsParticipants reported that app use increased their motivation, desire to set goals, confidence, control, and intentions to be mentally and emotionally healthy. This increase in perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes surrounding their mental and emotional health was considerably associated with perceived change in behavior. There was a positive association between the level of engagement with the app and the impact on theory items. Future efforts should consider the value of impacting key theoretical constructs when designing mental and emotional health apps. As apps are evaluated and additional theory-based apps are created, cost-effective self-help apps may become common preventative and treatment tools in the mental health field.

Background: Health care professionals commonly use mobile devices to retrieve drug information (DI) in clinical practice. The preference and frequency of such use by student pharmacists are not well understood. Objective: To investigate the preference and frequency of mobile phone application (app) use for retrieving DI among student pharmacists. Methods: DI specialists from 3 pharmacy schools generated a 13-question survey relating to students’ preference and frequency of DI app use via their mobile phone. The survey was tested and electronically disseminated to all current P1 through P4 students from all 3 schools. Data were collected for student demographics, availability of mobile phone and DI apps, frequency of using DI apps, and whether DI apps were purchased. Data were analyzed descriptively and statistically. Results: About 74% (n = 221) of students reported using their mobile phone apps for retrieving DI. About 95% of the students used 1 to 3 apps for DI purposes and more than 85% used them a few times a week or more. About 17.6% of the students reported purchasing apps for the purpose of finding DI and that purchased apps are more accurate (27.6%), more comprehensive (36.2%), and more current (26.2%), compared with free apps. Conclusions: Student pharmacists used 1 to 3 mobile apps, at least a few times a week for DI. Some students purchased apps for DI use in addition to free subscriptions from their school. Students perceived purchased DI apps being more accurate, more comprehensive, and more up to date than the free apps.

The market size of food industry across Southeast Asia has recorded a tremendous and robust surge especially in the food delivery sector during 2020 due the global pandemic. As far back as previous years reports show that the dynamic use of the current innovative mobile technologies in the Food and Service industries has orchestrated a vast array of innovative entrepreneurial opportunities and start-up business ventures for app developers and accrued tremendous growth for the restaurant and food businesses such as Zomato, Uber Eats and Food Panda Statista (2018) Food delivery applications (FDAs are mobile application that account for food delivery platform that account for daily used by an estimated 15 million deliveries solely in China and over a million in India. (Jindal, 2018). Online Food Delivery (OFD) platforms and Online-to-Offline (O2O) in collaboration are the two means by which mobile food apps curate the ecommerce of food business especially those in the restaurant-to-consumer markets through their platforms through online orderings which transcend into offline deliveries (Statista, 2019). However, regardless of how online mobile applications have curated a compelling yet significant paradigm shift in online shopping and ecommerce as well as the food and hospitality, it leaves much to understand how consumers attribute, relate and perceive these innovative services. Scholarly research and existing literature aimed at ensuring the apprehension across the various aspects of these mobile applications and platform is imperative. So as to give insight on how consumer behavior is appreciated with regards to the use of these Food Delivery Application (FDAs) and Online Food Deliveries (OFDs). Nevertheless, there is a crucial need to apprehend the ever evolving nature of these technologies and the dynamic nature of consumer behavior related to FDAs and OFDs that elicit a continuous scholarly overview into ascertaining an enriched accumulation of research jeered at facilitating a better and enriched understanding of the ever-changing area of food commerce. Since extensive similar research predominantly in the global markets spanning across Americas, Middle East, and Europe have been propounded to highlight the remarkably impetus the said food market through FDAs and OFDs have for significant investment (Hirschberg et al., 2016). In the wake of the global manner of how business is now conducted through online-to-offline all contained around deliveries, notably the food commerce of offering food and services (Roh and Park, 2019). This study seeks to stray from the convention of merely studying the consumer’s attribute and behavior towards these food delivery applications and the impact e-service, customer loyalty and food quality thereof (Suhartanto et al., 2019), but rather culminate a better insight of the acceptance of these food ordering and delivery platforms with the inherent awareness of the current global Corona Virus pandemic raging across the world and south-east Asia with emphasis to the country Malaysia. Inherent to the above research study one theory led is the consumer attitude and the end result aimed at leveling the intricacies of understanding the behavioral intention to use OFD services so as to investigate the notion of information system theory of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), serving as a framework to highlight the average consumers apprehension and acceptance and continuous use of these FDAs and OFDs. (Yeo et al., 2017). Alagoz and Hekimoglu (2012) also significantly explored the technology acceptance model ascertain the decision making processes entailed prior and during the online ordering of food through OFDS & FDAs while highlighting the consumers insight in this process as well as the role the theoretical model plays (Kang and Namkung, 2019a). Also , notable proposed study which hallmarks the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) has been implored to comprehend the psychological factors that be and their impact to the use of mobile diet apps for ordering food online (Okumus et al., 2018). Consequentially, this study seeks to merged the prior knowledge of consumer attitudes and behavior with insight of the cited Technology Acceptance Model so as to delve into an in-depth comprehension of how these two propound a better understanding of why consumers ought to use or will use FDAs or OFDs during this health safety and conscious era of the global Corona Pandemic.

Relations entre les symptomatologies anxieuse, dépressive et limite et la consommation et la dépendance au cannabis chez l’adolescent et le jeune adulte

To determine whether the self-report frequency of inter-agency collaboration about children's mental health issues is associated with the self-report frequency of using research evidence in children's mental health policy and program decision making in mental health agencies (MHAs). Primary data were collected through web-based surveys of state (N=221) and county (N=117) MHA officials. The primary independent variable was a composite score quantifying the frequency of collaboration about children's mental health issues between officials in MHAs and six other state agencies. The dependent variables were composite scores quantifying the frequency of research use in children's mental health policy and program decision making in general and for specific purposes (i.e., conceptual, instrumental, tactical, imposed). Covariates were composite scores quantifying well-established determinants of research use (e.g., agency leadership, research use skills) in agency policy and program decision making. Separate multiple linear regression models estimated associations between frequency of inter-agency collaboration and research use scores, adjusting for other determinants of research use, respondent state, and other covariates. Data from state and county officials were analyzed separately. The frequency of inter-agency collaboration was positively and independently associated with the frequency of research use in children's mental health policy making among state (β=0.22, p = 0.004) and county (β=0.39, p < 0.0001) MHA officials. Inter-agency collaboration was also the only variable significantly associated with the frequency of research use for all four specific purposes among state MHA officials, and similar findings we observed among county MHA officials. The magnitudes of associations between inter-agency collaboration and frequency of research use were generally stronger than for more well-established determinants of research use in policy making. Strategies that promote collaboration between MHA officials and external agencies could increase the use of research evidence in children's mental health policy and program decision making in MHAs.

Social media use increased early in the Covid-19 pandemic, but little information is available about its impact. The present study examined associations of frequency of use of different social media and the motives for use with subsequent social well-being and mental health. Data were gathered on a nationwide sample of 843 Americans during the first wave of lockdowns and infections in mid-April 2020, and again five weeks later. Participants were adults ages 20 to 88 years old (M = 39.3 years old) recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Controlling for age and gender, greater frequency of Facebook and video chat app use predicted higher levels social support but also higher levels of cumulative Covid-19–related stress appraisals and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Greater use of video chat apps also predicted less loneliness. Greater use of both Instagram and Snapchat predicted more anxiety and cumulative Covid-19–related stress appraisals. Greater use of Instagram also predicted higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Motives for use (e.g., connect with others, waste time/avoid responsibility, online video gaming with others) also differentially predicted social well-being and mental health. Results indicate that greater social media use early in the pandemic was often associated with more distress and lower levels of social well-being but, effects varied depending on types, frequency, and motivations for use. Overall, the study revealed that social media use related to social well-being and mental health in complex ways.

The effect of attitudinal barriers to mental health treatment on cannabis use and mediation through coping motives

BackgroundBecause of the quick development and widespread use of mobile phones, and their vast effect on communication and interactions, it is important to study possible negative health effects of mobile phone exposure. The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether there are associations between psychosocial aspects of mobile phone use and mental health symptoms in a prospective cohort of young adults.MethodsThe study group consisted of young adults 20-24 years old (n = 4156), who responded to a questionnaire at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Mobile phone exposure variables included frequency of use, but also more qualitative variables: demands on availability, perceived stressfulness of accessibility, being awakened at night by the mobile phone, and personal overuse of the mobile phone. Mental health outcomes included current stress, sleep disorders, and symptoms of depression. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated for cross-sectional and prospective associations between exposure variables and mental health outcomes for men and women separately.ResultsThere were cross-sectional associations between high compared to low mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for the men and women. When excluding respondents reporting mental health symptoms at baseline, high mobile phone use was associated with sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression for the men and symptoms of depression for the women at 1-year follow-up. All qualitative variables had cross-sectional associations with mental health outcomes. In prospective analysis, overuse was associated with stress and sleep disturbances for women, and high accessibility stress was associated with stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for both men and women.ConclusionsHigh frequency of mobile phone use at baseline was a risk factor for mental health outcomes at 1-year follow-up among the young adults. The risk for reporting mental health symptoms at follow-up was greatest among those who had perceived accessibility via mobile phones to be stressful. Public health prevention strategies focusing on attitudes could include information and advice, helping young adults to set limits for their own and others' accessibility.

The use of online communities and websites for health information has proliferated along with the use of mobile apps for managing health behaviors such as diet and exercise. The scarce evidence available to date suggests that users of these websites and apps differ in significant ways from non-users but most data come from US- and UK-based populations. In this study, we recruited users of nutrition, weight management, and fitness-oriented websites in the Czech Republic to better understand who uses mobile apps and who does not, including user sociodemographic and psychological profiles. Respondents aged 13-39 provided information on app use through an online survey (n = 669; M age = 24.06, SD = 5.23; 84% female). Among users interested in health topics, respondents using apps for managing nutrition, weight, and fitness (n = 403, 60%) were more often female, reported more frequent smartphone use, and more expert phone skills. In logistic regression models, controlling for sociodemographics, web, and phone activity, mHealth app use was predicted by levels of excessive exercise (OR 1.346, 95% CI 1.061-1.707, p < .01). Among app users, we found differences in types of apps used by gender, age, and weight status. Controlling for sociodemographics and web and phone use, drive for thinness predicted the frequency of use of apps for healthy eating (β = 0.14, p < .05), keeping a diet (β = 0.27, p < .001), and losing weight (β = 0.33, p < .001), whereas excessive exercise predicted the use of apps for keeping a diet (β = 0.18, p < .01), losing weight (β = 0.12, p < .05), and managing sport/exercise (β = 0.28, p < .001). Sensation seeking was negatively associated with the frequency of use of apps for maintaining weight (β = - 0.13, p < .05). These data unveil the user characteristics of mHealth app users from nutrition, weight management, and fitness websites, helping inform subsequent design of mHealth apps and mobile intervention strategies.

ABSTRACTBackground: Prior to legalization in October 2018, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug in Canada, with 60-73% of undergraduate students reporting use over their lifetime. Research consistently links marijuana use to negative outcomes such as physical and mental health problems and social, educational, and occupational impairments. Changes in substance use ensue rapidly in emerging adults, which makes understanding the link between motives and frequency important.Methods: A sample of 410 participants was recruited to complete self-report measures of marijuana motives and frequency of marijuana use at Baseline and Follow-Up (two weeks later). Of the initial sample, 247 reported prior use of marijuana and were included in the analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to test the relationships between the Baseline marijuana motives and frequency of use at Follow-Up while controlling for Baseline frequency of use.Results: The coping motive was the only motive significantly associated with a greater frequency of future marijuana use after controlling for prior frequency of use.Conclusion: Findings from this study help clarify the link between reasons for using marijuana and the frequency of use – an important area of research given recent legalization in Canada.

Comparison of the Impact of a mHealth Self-Management Intervention on Adolescents Versus Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

Background: In the United States, 5% of breastfeeding mothers report using cannabis. Frequent cannabis use results in higher delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in breast milk, and mode of cannabis use may also impact risk to the infant. The aim of this study was to understand how breastfeeding mothers use cannabis and factors related to frequency of its use. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among mothers who used cannabis while breastfeeding. Frequency of cannabis use was ascertained along with modes of and reasons for cannabis use. Respondents were grouped by frequency of use: less-than-daily (n = 686), low-daily (1-3 times/day; n = 423), and high-daily (≥4 times/day; n = 218). Chi-square and analysis of variance tested between-group differences, and ordinal logistic regression examined factors associated with cannabis use frequency. Results: Smoking (88%) was the most common mode of cannabis consumption, followed by vaping (48%) and oral/edibles (36%). Smoking and vaping differed by cannabis use frequency. Only 54% used cannabis to get high, but was reported more among frequent users. In contrast, 89% of mothers used cannabis for mental or physical health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic pain, and posttraumatic stress disorder. These symptoms differed by cannabis use frequency. Reporting more symptoms was associated with higher frequency of use. The odds of increasing cannabis use frequency was 2.7 for those reporting 1-2 health reasons, 5.6 for those reporting 3-4 health reasons, and 13.1 for reporting ≥5 health reasons. Conclusions: Strategies are needed to address maternal mental and physical health, which may be key to reducing cannabis use among breastfeeding mothers.