Using App Store Reviews to Explore User Experiences and Perceptions of Mental Health Mobile Apps: Qualitative Study

Background

With the rise of digital health, mental health apps (MHapps) have become an increasingly popular tool in the self-management of depression, anxiety, and stress. Star ratings are often used as indicators of app quality to guide selection. However, ratings do not fully capture if the MHapp's features, usability, or design elements exhibit the heterogeneous real-life user experiences. Instead, examining the patterns of engagement and app usage can highlight whether high ratings reflect diverse user needs.