Rising mental health distress underscores the need for promotion initiatives that strengthen resilience and buffer against common disorders. Digital delivery offers accessible, scalable opportunities for lifestyle-based interventions to enhance well-being; however, outcomes are often limited by poor adherence. The role of human support in improving adherence and outcomes of digital interventions among general populations remains underexplored. This mixed-method study addresses this gap, providing novel insights into the influence of human support and identifying strategies for optimal online delivery.
Key insights:
This dissertation confirmed the emerging body of evidence that a broad-ranging interplay of diverse variables impacts adherence behaviour. While human support may be one of the many influences on adherence, general population participants do not perceive it as a critical moderating factor. Instead, time availability was perceived as the chief influence when participating in a digital mental health promotion intervention.
Impact and outcomes:
This study advances the limited evidence base on human support needs in digitally delivered mental health promotion for the general population. By clarifying the optimal level of human support, it highlights pathways to improve adherence and outcomes while addressing the scalability and cost implications of incorporating human resources.
Research outputs:
Renfrew, M. (2022). The Influence of Human Support on Adherence to, and Outcomes of an Online Interdisciplinary Mental Health Promotion Intervention for a Healthy Adult Cohort [Doctoral dissertation, Avondale University]. https://research.avondale.edu.au/items/71c17330-56da-4a5e-996e-091c5133adbd
Renfrew, M. E., Morton, D. P., Morton, J. K., & Przybylko, G. (2021). The influence of Human support on the effectiveness of digital mental health promotion interventions for the general population [Mini Review]. Front Psychology, 12(3590). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.716106
Renfrew, M. E., Morton, D. P., Northcote, M., Morton, J. K., Hinze, J. S., & Przybylko, G. (2021). Participant perceptions of facilitators and barriers to adherence in a digital mental health intervention for a nonclinical cohort: Content analysis. J Med Internet Res, 23(4), e25358. https://doi.org/10.2196/25358
Renfrew, M. E., Morton, D. P., Morton, J. K., Hinze, J. S., Przybylko, G., & Craig, B. A. (2020). The influence of three modes of human support on attrition and adherence to a Web- and mobile app–based mental health promotion intervention in a nonclinical cohort: Randomized comparative study [Original Paper]. J Med Internet Res, 22(9), e19945. https://doi.org/10.2196/19945
Renfrew, M., Morton, D., Morton, J., Hinze, J., Beamish, P., Przybylko, G., & Craig, B. (2019). The influence of human support on the effectiveness of an online mental wellbeing intervention American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Orlando, Florida, USA [Conference Abstract Presentation]
Renfrew, M., Morton, D., Morton, J., Hinze, J., Beamish, P., & Przybylko, G. (2019). The influence of human support on the effectiveness of a Web- and mobile app-based multimodal lifestyle intervention targeting mental health: A randomised comparative study Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Auckland, New Zealand [Conference Abstract Presentation]
Renfrew, M., Morton, D., Kent, L., Morton, J., Hinze, J., Beamish, P., Przybylko, G., & Craig, B. (2018). Study protocol: The human touch - the influence of adherence to and outcomes of an online, lifestyle-based mental health intervention Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Brisbane, Australia [Conference Abstract Presentation]
Fields of Research Codes:
42 Health sciences
4206 Public Health
Status:
Completed (2017 – 2022)
Sustainable Development Goals:
