The acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a newly developed wellbeing app, Whitu, has been examined in a study of New Zealand young adults. Whitu has 7 modules that support young people to learn and practice evidence-based coping skills, including relaxation, mindfulness, self-compassion, and goal-setting. Participants aged 16-25 years (n = 20) were recruited via social media to test the first prototype of Whitu over 6 weeks. At 2 weeks post-intervention, statistically significant improvements in anxiety (p = 0.024) and stress (p = 0.017) were evident vs baseline. At 6 weeks post-intervention, there were significant improvements in wellbeing (p = 0.021), depression (p = 0.031), anxiety (p = 0.005), and stress (p = 0.004) vs baseline. There were no statistically significant changes in self-compassion, optimism, or sleep quality. A further 21 participants aged 16-30 years participated in 4 focus groups to give feedback on the app’s usability and cultural acceptability. Based on this feedback, modifications to the look and feel, cultural content, and onboarding have been undertaken, and a randomised controlled trial of Whitu is currently underway.
