Proceedings of the Positive Technology International Conference 2023 Positive Technology: Possible Synergies between Emerging Technologies and Positive Psychology (PT 2023)

Mind Captain: A Positive Technology App for Youth Well-being

Authors
Flavia Cristofolini1, Luca Bernardelli2, Thomas Albers3, Andrea Gaggioli1, 4, *
1Research Center in Communication Psychology (PSICOM), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
2BECOME. Augmented Life, Milan, Italy
3ANATTA Foundation, Aalten, The Netherlands
4Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab., IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
*Corresponding author. Email: andrea.gaggioli@unicatt.it
Corresponding Author
Andrea Gaggioli
Available Online 19 February 2024.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-378-8_4How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Positive Technology; Positive Psychology; Acceptance-Commitment Training; m-Health; Youth Positive Mental Health; Emotional Intelligence; Human-Centered Design; Youth work
Abstract

The COVID-19 emergency has notoriously adversely affected youth’s mental health, leading to a dramatic increase not only in clinically relevant disorders but also in generalized sub-syndromic affective maladjustment and emotional dysregulation. As youth mental health apps hold unique potential for support of this vulnerable population, we have been developing a novel digital app for youth well-being called “Mind Captain”, aimed to increase emotional literacy as a prerequisite for emotion management, to offer strategies to deal with difficult emotions and train positive strengths. Innovative features are: 1) the involvement of youth workers who will receive a dedicated training aimed at including the app in their youthwork; 2) a psychological framework composed of well-established constructs from Socio-Emotional Learning, the third-wave Cognitive-Behavioural approach of Acceptance and Commitment Training, Positive Psychology and Compassion Focused approach 3) a metaphorical storytelling, based on the user being the captain of a ship and voyaging on a flexible route of personal growth, starting from emotional self-awareness through emotional self-regulation to positive empowerment; each voyage destination has a precise psychological function. A support website will offer extra psychoeducational and research materials. The human-centered design approach included bench-marking analysis and systematic review of m-health youth apps, youth need analysis from literature and through dedicated national and international focus groups, the continuous project team interaction for a gradual refinement to achieve a minimum viable product to be tested for usability, engagement, functionality, effectiveness.

Copyright
© 2024 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the Positive Technology International Conference 2023 Positive Technology: Possible Synergies between Emerging Technologies and Positive Psychology (PT 2023)
Series
Atlantis Highlights in Social Sciences, Education and Humanities
Publication Date
19 February 2024
ISBN
10.2991/978-94-6463-378-8_4
ISSN
2667-128X
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-378-8_4How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2024 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Flavia Cristofolini
AU  - Luca Bernardelli
AU  - Thomas Albers
AU  - Andrea Gaggioli
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/02/19
TI  - Mind Captain: A Positive Technology App for Youth Well-being
BT  - Proceedings of the Positive Technology International Conference 2023 Positive Technology: Possible Synergies between Emerging Technologies and Positive Psychology (PT 2023)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 46
EP  - 65
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-378-8_4
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-378-8_4
ID  - Cristofolini2024
ER  -