Who benefits from digital well-being apps? – New study sheds light on potential user archetypes

A new study by the University of Eastern Finland explored who are most likely to adopt and actively use digital apps designed to promote well-being in North Savo, in the Eastern part of Finland. The study found that individuals with lower life satisfaction and those experiencing more challenges in their daily life were more likely to initiate app use. However, app engagement was, ultimately, most active among those with highest life satisfaction.

Previous studies have shown that a healthy lifestyle is associated with mental well-being and life satisfaction. Digital lifestyle interventions, such as well-being apps, can support a healthy lifestyle and provide guidance for everyday choices that promote well-being. However, their effectiveness varies from person to person.

“There is little research into how users’ background characteristics, life situation and well-being affect their likelihood to adopt and actively use well-being promoting apps during the early stages of lifestyle interventions. Our study examined the association of these factors with app engagement,” says Project Researcher Hanna Rekola of the University of Eastern Finland.

In the study, the BitHabit well-being app, designed to promote a healthy lifestyle, was made available for a two-month trial period in spring 2023 to all individuals who responded to a survey measuring healthy lifestyle, life satisfaction and well-being. A total of 1,646 individuals responded to the well-being survey, and 863 of them started using the BitHabit app. Men, unemployed individuals and those reporting higher life satisfaction were less likely to start using the app.

Three distinct user archetypes identified

The study identified three distinct user archetypes based on app engagement, life satisfaction and reported life challenges or impairments: thriving nonactive users, struggling nonactive users, and active users. At baseline, active users reported higher general life satisfaction, and they were more likely to be older rather than younger. Various socioeconomic factors and lifestyle habits were also associated with user archetypes.  

“Further research is needed to ensure that digital well-being apps appeal to a broader user base and better meet the needs of individuals with less favourable lifestyle habits and poorer mental health,” Rekola adds.

The study employed logistic regression to analyse the association of user characteristics with the adoption of the BitHabit app. User archetypes and contributing factors were identified using k-means clustering and multinomial logistic regression.

The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth, and it was conducted as part of the PREWELL project funded by the Research Council of Finland, and as part of the Feeling Good North Savo programme funded by the European Social Fund.