Conception, mise en œuvre et évaluation d'une application mobile pour la gestion du stress

Thesis Abstract

Stress is a pervasive psychological health concern affecting diverse populations globally, often leading to adverse physical and mental health outcomes if unaddressed. Despite the proliferation of mobile health (mHealth) technologies, there remains a significant gap in accessible, user-friendly applications specifically designed for stress management rooted in evidence-based principles. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate a mobile application tailored to assist users in managing stress effectively, thereby contributing to the growing field of digital health interventions. The primary objectives include developing an intuitive user interface integrated with validated stress reduction techniques, assessing its usability and acceptance among targeted users, and evaluating its efficacy in reducing stress levels over a three-month period. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining qualitative approaches for application development with quantitative methods for evaluation. The quantitative component involved a pretest-posttest control group design, while qualitative insights were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The population for the study comprised 200 adult participants aged 18-45 diagnosed with moderate stress levels, recruited from healthcare centers and community outreach programs in an urban setting. A stratified random sampling technique was utilized to select 150 participants for the intervention group and 50 for the control group, ensuring balanced representation across demographic variables. Data collection instruments included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to measure stress levels, the System Usability Scale (SUS) for assessing application usability, and semi-structured interview guides focusing on user experiences, perceived benefits, and suggestions for improvement. The internal consistency of the quantitative instruments was verified through Cronbach’s alpha, yielding coefficients above 0.80, indicating high reliability. Data on stress levels were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and after three months, with the application’s usage frequency tracked via built-in analytics. The analysis employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic data and application engagement metrics. Paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA examined the differences in stress levels over time within and between groups. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified key themes related to user experience, perceived efficacy, and barriers to adoption. Multiple regression analysis explored the relationship between app usage patterns and reductions in stress levels, controlling for confounding variables. Expected findings indicate a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress among app users compared to controls, with usability scores averaging above 75 on the SUS, demonstrating acceptable user satisfaction. The qualitative analysis is anticipated to reveal themes emphasizing ease of use, immediate stress relief features, and motivation for continued use, alongside barriers such as technical issues or lack of time. The study is expected to contribute novel insights into the practical integration of evidence-based stress reduction strategies within mobile platforms and expand understanding of factors influencing user engagement and effectiveness in digital stress management tools. The study concludes that a thoughtfully designed mobile application can serve as an effective adjunct in stress reduction interventions, with implications for healthcare providers, app developers, and policymakers seeking scalable mental health solutions. Recommendations include incorporating personalized content to enhance engagement, conducting longitudinal studies to assess sustained effects, and exploring integration with other health monitoring systems. Overall, this research advances knowledge in mHealth innovation for psychological well-being and provides a framework for future development and evaluation of stress management technologies.