EXPLORING PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCES WITH THE EASE INTERVENTION: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global health and well-being, intensifyingpreexisting disparities, and revealing critical gaps in access to mental healthcare for individuals in underserved communities. In the U.S., marginalized populations including Black, Hispanic, and American Indian (BHAI) communities were disproportionately affected by stress, anxiety, and depression during the pandemic. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer solutions to address behavioral health disparities, particularly among populations with limited access to care. This study examines user engagement and perceptions of EASE, a culturally informed mHealth app developed to support mental health among BHAI individuals experiencing elevated symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to identify which features were most helpful and how participants interacted with the app using qualitative analysis for post-intervention interviews. We found that Coping Toolkit, a key feature of the app, was most frequently reported as both the favorite and most helpful feature. While the app’s core features were generally well-received, participants expressed a desire for greater control, personalization, and improved content relevance. These findings expand current knowledge by emphasizing the importance of flexible and user-centered design in mHealth interventions. This study offers actionable insights to guide the development of future mHealth tools aimed at reducing mental health disparities and improving digital health equity