Managing Anxiety through Mobile Application Suites; The Function of Mobile Device Use in Modern Child Development

How can mobile devices promote individual wellbeing? Mobile device use has increased among all age groups, and such devices may therefore offer a means of improving access to mental health care. However, mobile devices can introduce new hazards to personal wellbeing.

How can a mobile application training suite relieve the user’s anxiety? The capstone team worked with MindTrails, a University of Virginia research initiative, to create an anxiety training mobile app. The MindTrails website offers users training in anxiety management, but retention is low and accessibility is limited. MindTrails anticipates that a mobile app would improve retention and access. The team used React Native and Flask to build a mobile app for iOS and Android platforms. We improved accessibility by storing user progress locally, and used notifications to retain users who are at risk of abandoning the program.

How do the defenders and critics of mobile device use among children advance their respective agendas? Through mobile devices, many children are exposed to online media at an early age. Some mobile developers have responded with content that is purportedly beneficial for children while others seek to exploit them. Groups such as the Entertainment Software Association argue that mobile devices can promote healthy child development, while others, such as the World Health Organization, contend that such devices detract from development. All sides appeal to parents through sometimes selective claims about the mental and social health effects of device use.

List of Contents
1. Preface
2. Technical Report: Managing Anxiety through Mobile Application Training Suites
3. STS Research Paper: The Function of Mobile Device Use in Modern Child Development
4. Prospectus

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Technical Advisor: Ahmed Ibrahim
STS Advisor: Peter Norton
Techincal Team Members: Everett Adams, Jeffrey Gerken, Danielle Newman, William Ngu, Jacobo Pacheco, Daniel Zarco