Understanding Who Benefits Most from Digital Well-Being Applications

A recent study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland has shed light on the characteristics of individuals most likely to adopt and actively engage with digital apps aimed at promoting well-being. Conducted in North Savo, eastern Finland, the research found that those experiencing lower overall life satisfaction and facing more daily challenges were more inclined to initiate the use of these digital well-being tools. Interestingly, despite initiating use, individuals with higher life satisfaction tended to engage more actively with the apps over time.

Previous research indicates that maintaining a healthy lifestyle correlates with improved mental health and increased life satisfaction. Digital lifestyle interventions, such as well-being apps, are designed to support healthy choices and enhance overall wellness, though their effectiveness can vary among users.

The study highlights a gap in understanding how users’ backgrounds, life circumstances, and wellbeing influence their likelihood to embrace such technologies, especially during the early phases of their adoption. Hanna Rekola, a project researcher at the university, emphasized the importance of exploring these factors to optimize digital health interventions.

In the trial, the BitHabit app, which promotes healthy living, was offered free for two months in spring 2023 to participants who completed a survey measuring health habits and life satisfaction. Of the 1,646 respondents, 863 initiated app use. Findings showed that men, unemployed individuals, and those with higher life satisfaction were less likely to start using the app. Conversely, the study identified three primary user archetypes based on engagement levels, life satisfaction, and reported challenges: thriving non-active users, struggling non-active users, and active users. Active participants tended to be older and reported higher life satisfaction.

The research utilized advanced statistical methods, including logistic regression and cluster analysis, to establish links between user characteristics and engagement patterns. The results underscore the need for tailoring digital wellness solutions to suit diverse user groups, ensuring wider accessibility and effectiveness.

Professor Rekola stressed that further work is needed to make these apps appealing and beneficial for people with less favorable lifestyles and poorer mental health, thereby broadening their impact. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-benefits-digital-apps-potential-user.html