Exploring a Multifaceted Framework to Support the Design of Mobile Apps for Self-Regulating Anxiety

The ubiquity of mobile devices gives rise to mobile applications designed for self-regulating anxiety, yet empirical evidence of the efficacy and safety that these apps provide is lacking. An in-depth understanding of mobile app-based support for anxiety can provide guidelines to improve future designs, including their accessibility and user experience. Our research takes one step toward filling this gap by exploring individual experiences of anxiety through semi-structured interviews with eight participants with varying anxiety experiences. Our findings indicate that mobile apps have the potential to be a supplemental tool for anxiety regulation through user-level customization, and naturalistic and trustworthy communication. We propose a framework that integrates top-down (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and bottom-up (e.g., Body Psychotherapy, Polyvagal Theory) therapy approaches, and Norman’s Three Levels of Emotional Design to contribute to the design of mobile apps for self-regulating anxiety.