Analysis of Mobile App-Based Mental Health Solutions for College Students: A Rapid Review

Abstract

Background: College students are one of the most susceptible age groups to mental health problems. With the growing popularity of mobile health (mHealth), there is an increasing need to investigate its implications for mental health solutions. This review evaluates mHealth interventions for addressing mental health problems among college students. Methods: An online database search was conducted. Articles were required to focus on the impact of mHealth intervention on student mental health. Fifteen of the 487 articles, initially pulled from the search query, were included in the review. Results: The review identified three primary aspects of mental health: depression, anxiety, and stress. Research that found statistically significant improvements following mHealth intervention involved study durations between four and eight weeks, daily app use, guided lessons using cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and meditation. The review’s findings show that future work must address the concern of digital divide, gender and sex differences, and have larger sample sizes. Conclusions: There is potential to improve depressive symptoms and other similar mental health problems among college students via mobile app interventions. However, actions must be taken to improve barriers to communication and better reach the younger generations.