Examining Input Modalities and Visual Feedback Designs in Mobile Expressive Writing

TL;DR

This study investigates how different input methods and visual feedback designs in mobile expressive writing apps affect usability and stress relief, providing empirical insights to improve interface design for mental health support.

Contribution

It offers the first empirical analysis of input modalities and visual feedback effects on mobile expressive writing's usability and stress relief.

Findings

Keyboard input preferred over voice for privacy and reflection.

Visual feedback preferences vary based on stress type and cause.

Mobile expressive writing effectively reduces stress.

Abstract

Expressive writing is an established approach for stress management. Recently, information technologies, such as smartphones, have also been explored for expressive writing. Although mobile interfaces have the potential to support various daily writing activities, interface designs for mobile expressive writing and their effects on stress relief still lack empirical understanding. We examined the interface design of mobile expressive writing by investigating the influence of input modalities and visual feedback designs on usability and perceived cathartic effects through field studies. While our studies confirmed the stress-relieving effects of mobile expressive writing, our results offer important insights into interface design. We found keyboard-based text entry more suited and preferred over voice messages for its privacy and reflective nature. Participants expressed different reasons for preferring different post-writing visual feedback depending on the cause and type of stress. This work advances interface design for mobile expressive writing and deepens understanding of its effects.