Ecological momentary assessment of self-rated health, daily strategies and self-management app use among trauma-exposed adults. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hensler, Ida; Sveen, Josefin; Cernvall, Martin; Arnberg, Filip K.
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 12:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: PTSD -- self-rated health -- app -- telemental health -- RCT -- EMA; TEPT -- salud autoevaluada -- aplicación -- salud mental a distancia -- RCT -- EMA; PTSD -- 自评健康状况 -- 应用程序 -- 电子心理健康 -- RCT -- EMA; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1920204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : The process whereby trauma-exposed people benefit from self-management apps to increase health is poorly understood. Objective : We investigated whether access to a self-management smartphone app for posttraumatic stress (PTSD Coach) improved momentary self-rated health (SRH) and if use of a self-management app or specific strategies related to SRH. Method : Participants were 179 adults in Sweden with trauma exposure in the past 2 years who were enrolled in a randomized trial of PTSD Coach versus waitlist. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) were collected twice daily during 21 consecutive days from participants in both groups, with questions about momentary SRH as well as self-management app use and use of strategies (social support, distress management, monitoring of discomfort and seeking information) in the preceding 12 hours. Results : Overall, neither access to PTSD Coach nor reported use of an app in the preceding hours was related to SRH. Even so, people with access to PTSD Coach reported using more social support over time. Socializing and use of social support predicted greater SRH. Use of other strategies was associated with worse short-term SRH. Conclusions : Momentarily improved health relates to utilization of social support. However, the directionality of the day-to-day associations is unclear; uncertainty remains around the timing for assessing these relationships. HIGHLIGHTS: Access to the self-management app PTSD Coach increased use of social support, but not momentary self-rated general health, compared to waitlist. Use of social support was related to greater short-term health.