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Design, development, and evaluation of an mHealth app to reduce stress and promote happiness through smiling.

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Title: Design, development, and evaluation of an mHealth app to reduce stress and promote happiness through smiling.
Authors: Orji, Joseph (AUTHOR), Chan, Gerry (AUTHOR), Orji, Rita (AUTHOR)
Source: Behaviour & Information Technology. May2026, Vol. 45 Issue 8, p1546-1566. 21p.
Subjects: Mobile apps, Generative artificial intelligence, Research funding, T-test (Statistics), Persuasion (Rhetoric), Positive psychology, Interviewing, Pilot projects, Mann Whitney U Test, Descriptive statistics, Thematic analysis, Pre-tests & post-tests, Motivation (Psychology), Happiness, Psychological stress, Research methodology, Intention, Software architecture, Data analysis software, Facial expression, Chatbots
Abstract: The field of mental health application research is growing, yet comprehensive, long-term studies validating claims of stress reduction and mood enhancement are limited, with many apps lacking empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an mHealth application called SmileApp to promote positive mood as a means of reducing stress. The design of SmileApp is grounded in psychological theories and integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and persuasive technology (PT). To evaluate SmileApp, we conducted a two-week in-the-wild study involving 72 participants. This was followed by an optional semi-structured interview with 23 participants. Quantitative results suggest that SmileApp is usable, useful, and encourages users to smile more frequently. Furthermore, qualitative results suggest that SmileApp was a unique design to help users alleviate stress. These results offer valuable insights into innovative approaches for designing mHealth applications that promote positive mood. Moreover, the findings underscore the importance of utilising technology to support emotional well-being. We present a novel approach to promote desired behaviours by motivating users to read supportive messages and playing mobile games through the act of smiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Behaviour & Information Technology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Design, development, and evaluation of an mHealth app to reduce stress and promote happiness through smiling.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Orji%2C+Joseph%22">Orji, Joseph</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chan%2C+Gerry%22">Chan, Gerry</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Orji%2C+Rita%22">Orji, Rita</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Behaviour+%26+Information+Technology%22">Behaviour & Information Technology</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 45 Issue 8, p1546-1566. 21p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mobile+apps%22">Mobile apps</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generative+artificial+intelligence%22">Generative artificial intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22T-test+%28Statistics%29%22">T-test (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Persuasion+%28Rhetoric%29%22">Persuasion (Rhetoric)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Positive+psychology%22">Positive psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pilot+projects%22">Pilot projects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mann+Whitney+U+Test%22">Mann Whitney U Test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pre-tests+%26+post-tests%22">Pre-tests & post-tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Happiness%22">Happiness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+stress%22">Psychological stress</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intention%22">Intention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Software+architecture%22">Software architecture</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Facial+expression%22">Facial expression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chatbots%22">Chatbots</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The field of mental health application research is growing, yet comprehensive, long-term studies validating claims of stress reduction and mood enhancement are limited, with many apps lacking empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an mHealth application called SmileApp to promote positive mood as a means of reducing stress. The design of SmileApp is grounded in psychological theories and integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and persuasive technology (PT). To evaluate SmileApp, we conducted a two-week in-the-wild study involving 72 participants. This was followed by an optional semi-structured interview with 23 participants. Quantitative results suggest that SmileApp is usable, useful, and encourages users to smile more frequently. Furthermore, qualitative results suggest that SmileApp was a unique design to help users alleviate stress. These results offer valuable insights into innovative approaches for designing mHealth applications that promote positive mood. Moreover, the findings underscore the importance of utilising technology to support emotional well-being. We present a novel approach to promote desired behaviours by motivating users to read supportive messages and playing mobile games through the act of smiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Behaviour & Information Technology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193710030
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0144929X.2025.2494278
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 1546
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mobile apps
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Generative artificial intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: T-test (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Persuasion (Rhetoric)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Positive psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pilot projects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mann Whitney U Test
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pre-tests & post-tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Happiness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological stress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Software architecture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Facial expression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chatbots
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Design, development, and evaluation of an mHealth app to reduce stress and promote happiness through smiling.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Orji, Joseph
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            NameFull: Chan, Gerry
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            NameFull: Orji, Rita
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            – D: 15
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 45
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              Value: 8
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            – TitleFull: Behaviour & Information Technology
              Type: main
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