A Contextual Approach to Inform a Mobile Health Application for Adolescent Health

• Published in: Journal of child and family studies Vol. 29; no. 12; pp. 3420 - 3432
• Main Authors: Larson, Kim L., Ballard, Sharon M., Ellis, Danny F., Peery, Josh G., Cary, Julie E., Levy, Rebecca L., Nelson, Taylor B., Scroggs, Lauren B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescents; Alcohol abuse; Alcoholism; Application; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Child and School Psychology; Childrens health; College students; Decision making; Ethnic groups; Everyday life; Focus Groups; Health information; Holistic approach; Minority groups; Mixed gender; Neighborhoods; Original Paper; Partnerships; Poverty; Psychology; Racism; Risk behavior; Risk reduction; Rural areas; Sexual behavior; Smartphones; Social aspects; Social media; Social networks; Social Sciences; Sociology; Substance abuse; Systemic racism; Teenagers; Telemedicine; Youth; United States > US; Risk behaviors; Contextual elements; Focus groups; Mobile application; Adolescents
• ISSN: 1062-1024; 1573-2843
• DOI: 10.1007/s10826-020-01826-x

Adolescents from rural, resource poor regions of the United States have disproportionately higher rates of drug and alcohol misuse, which may lead to increased sexual risk behaviors. Adolescents living in both urban and rural areas are major users of smartphones as a source for health information. Yet, the quality and accuracy of some Internet sites tend to be unreliable. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of adolescents from a rural region in the southeastern United States regarding health and social concerns to inform the development of a risk reduction application for smartphone use. This study used a qualitative descriptive design guided by the Theory of Triadic Influence. The research team was composed of community partners, faculty, and students from a mid-Atlantic university. Forty-nine adolescents (18 boys and 31 girls) participated in one of five mixed-gender focus groups; they were predominantly Black and Latino, with a mean age of 13.8. Content and thematic analysis led to three interrelated themes: Family as Nexus, Unlevel Playing Field, and Threats to Safety and Security. Structural (racism and bullying) and proximal (neighborhood, family and peers) determinants of health were congruent with other recent reports. Snapchat and Instagram were the most popular social media platforms used. Using a contextual approach, we analyzed the daily experiences of ethnic minority adolescents to inform the development of a risk reduction mobile health application. Community-academic partnerships with engaged youth can assist in smartphone application development and beta testing. Highlights The Theory of Triadic Influence illustrated contexts of adolescent decision-making. Adolescents made decisions in the contexts of racism, poverty, and violence. Contextual elements provided a holistic approach to mobile health applications.