Disputas- Master i psykologi Helene Høgsdal

Avhandlingen er tilgjengelig her Prøveforelesning over oppgitt emne holdes kl. 10.15:   “Implementation and dissemination of mental health apps: Future steps”.  Prøveforelesningen vil også bli strømmet/the trial lecture will also be streamed. Disputasen starter kl. 1215, og vil bli strømmet her. Opptak av disputasen vil være tilgjengelig i et døgn. The defense will be streamed here. A recording of the disputation will be available for 24 hours.

Populærvitenskapelig sammendrag av avhandlingen:
Adolescents spend considerable time on mobile devices, making these a promising platform for health promotion and prevention. Mental health apps (MHapps) can offer both information and exercises to support mental health, but their overall impact on mental health and well-being in a general population of adolescents remains uncertain. This dissertation investigated the potential of MHapps to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems among a general population of Norwegian adolescents through four individual studies. Study 1 used a mixed methods design to examine adolescents’ general attitudes about MHapps. Study 2 was a cross-sectional user survey of the two MHapps Opp and NettOpp. Study 3 and Study 4 were effectiveness studies of Opp and NettOpp, respectively, using randomized controlled trials designs. Study 1 found that adolescents hold positive attitudes towards MHapps, valuing their accessibility, credible sources, and reliable information as well as the ability for autonomy. In Study 2, the MHapps Opp and NettOpp were found to have acceptable usability and quality, although users were uncertain about their potential to reduce mental health problems or cyberbullying. In Studies 3 and 4, most outcomes did not change significantly, although in Study 3 Opp led to a stabilization of mental health problems in the intervention group compared to the control group (F(1,790) = 4.35, p = .037). Study 4 showed that NettOpp reduced hyperactivity among the adolescents who used the app (F(4,1585) = 2.89, p = .021). Together, the findings suggest that MHapps are promising and may support mental health promotion and prevention in general adolescent populations. However, there are limitations to the studies that should be taken into consideration. Further research is needed to identify what components in MHapps are effective among a general adolescent population, their potential cost-effectiveness, and how they should be implemented as well as how to improve user engagement with MHapps among this group.

Hovedveileder 
Førsteamanuensis Henriette Kyrrestad, Regionalt kunnskapssenter for barn og unge Nord, (RKBU Nord), Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet, UiT Norges arktiske universitet. 

Biveileder
Professor Sabine Kaiser, Regionalt kunnskapssenter for barn og unge Nord, (RKBU Nord), Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet, UiT Norges arktiske universitet.

Bedømmelseskomité
Førsteamanuensis Tara Donker, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - 1. opponent.
Professor John Kjøbli, RBUP Øst og Sør, Regionsenter for barn og unges psykiske helse - 2. opponent.
Professor Camilla Lauritzen, Regionalt kunnskapssenter for barn og unge Nord, (RKBU Nord), Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet, UiT Norges arktiske universitet – leder av komité.

Disputasleder: Instituttleder Monica Martinussen, Regionalt kunnskapssenter for barn og unge Nord, (RKBU Nord), Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet, UiT Norges arktiske universitet