User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns

Abstract BackgroundA healthy lifestyle is associated with mental well-being, and digital lifestyle interventions can be effective in promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, they do not appear to work for all, and we have limited knowledge of how users’ background characteristi...

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Main Authors: Hanna Rekola, Tommi Tolmunen, Elina Mattila, Juho Strömmer, Timo A Lakka, Helena Länsimies, Tomi Mäki-Opas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-08-01
Series:JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Online Access:https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e68982
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author Hanna Rekola
Tommi Tolmunen
Elina Mattila
Juho Strömmer
Timo A Lakka
Helena Länsimies
Tomi Mäki-Opas
author_facet Hanna Rekola
Tommi Tolmunen
Elina Mattila
Juho Strömmer
Timo A Lakka
Helena Länsimies
Tomi Mäki-Opas
author_sort Hanna Rekola
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundA healthy lifestyle is associated with mental well-being, and digital lifestyle interventions can be effective in promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, they do not appear to work for all, and we have limited knowledge of how users’ background characteristics affect their tendency to adopt well-being–promoting digital apps and actively use them. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the association of the study participants’ characteristics and current well-being with their likelihood of using a well-being–promoting mobile app. MethodsThe BitHabit web app (Wellpro Impact Solutions Ltd) was available for a 2-month trial in spring 2023 after completing a short cross-sectional digital questionnaire with questions about well-being, life satisfaction, and lifestyle. Individuals aged 15 years or younger were excluded from the analysis. We used logistic regression to assess how individual characteristics were associated with the initiation of BitHabit app use. To assess user archetypes among those who initiated app use, and k-means clustering analysis and multinomial logistic regression to assess user archetypes among those who initiated app use. ResultsA total of 1646 eligible individuals responded to the questionnaire, and 863 initiated app use. Lower odds of initiating app use were detected among males (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% CI 0.51‐0.85; PPPP=PPPPPP ConclusionsWhile lower general life satisfaction and less favorable health behavior appeared to increase the likelihood of trying the app, those who eventually actively used the app were more satisfied with their lives at baseline. In addition, among nonactive users, there were recognizable user profiles of thriving and struggling nonactive users, which were associated with various individual characteristics. Further research is needed to develop digital apps to attract more potential users and meet the needs of those with an unhealthy lifestyle and poor mental health.
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spelling doaj-art-4dfaa39fe40f4509ae4d01b3b1910a7e2025-08-25T21:21:09ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR mHealth and uHealth2291-52222025-08-0113e68982e6898210.2196/68982User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage PatternsHanna Rekolahttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-1314-1895Tommi Tolmunenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5359-4680Elina Mattilahttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7805-5982Juho Strömmerhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5779-9154Timo A Lakkahttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9199-2871Helena Länsimieshttp://orcid.org/0009-0008-7596-0547Tomi Mäki-Opashttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0472-719X Abstract BackgroundA healthy lifestyle is associated with mental well-being, and digital lifestyle interventions can be effective in promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, they do not appear to work for all, and we have limited knowledge of how users’ background characteristics affect their tendency to adopt well-being–promoting digital apps and actively use them. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the association of the study participants’ characteristics and current well-being with their likelihood of using a well-being–promoting mobile app. MethodsThe BitHabit web app (Wellpro Impact Solutions Ltd) was available for a 2-month trial in spring 2023 after completing a short cross-sectional digital questionnaire with questions about well-being, life satisfaction, and lifestyle. Individuals aged 15 years or younger were excluded from the analysis. We used logistic regression to assess how individual characteristics were associated with the initiation of BitHabit app use. To assess user archetypes among those who initiated app use, and k-means clustering analysis and multinomial logistic regression to assess user archetypes among those who initiated app use. ResultsA total of 1646 eligible individuals responded to the questionnaire, and 863 initiated app use. Lower odds of initiating app use were detected among males (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% CI 0.51‐0.85; PPPP=PPPPPP ConclusionsWhile lower general life satisfaction and less favorable health behavior appeared to increase the likelihood of trying the app, those who eventually actively used the app were more satisfied with their lives at baseline. In addition, among nonactive users, there were recognizable user profiles of thriving and struggling nonactive users, which were associated with various individual characteristics. Further research is needed to develop digital apps to attract more potential users and meet the needs of those with an unhealthy lifestyle and poor mental health.https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e68982
spellingShingle Hanna Rekola
Tommi Tolmunen
Elina Mattila
Juho Strömmer
Timo A Lakka
Helena Länsimies
Tomi Mäki-Opas
User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
title User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns
title_full User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns
title_fullStr User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns
title_full_unstemmed User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns
title_short User Archetypes of a Well-Being–Promoting Mobile App Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study and Cluster Analysis of Usage Patterns
title_sort user archetypes of a well being promoting mobile app among adults cross sectional study and cluster analysis of usage patterns
url https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e68982
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