Adoption of Smart Real-time Mental Health System to Support Emotional Well-being among Young Adults in Post Covid Era:
Role of Social Media
Khan Nasreen1, Tan Booi Chen2, Subbarao Anusuyah2
1 Department of Marketing, Multimedia University of Cyberjaya, Malaysia
2 Department of Information Technology, Multimedia University of Cyberjaya, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Accepted: 15 August 2020 | Published: 31August 2020
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Abstract: The world is facing a crisis in poor mental health due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most young10 adults in Malaysia struggle from some form of mental health issues.
Although Malaysia has digital medical care system, there is not much data yet on readiness of people to adopt the digital mental health care. Young people seek information and emotional support regarding their illness, online especially on social media, however research evidence for their effectiveness in reducing mental health symptoms is currently lacking. The study proposed to investigate the factors that influence on readiness for adopting the real-time mental system to improve emotional well-being of the young adults in Post Covid Era. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. For the first step, selected interview was conducted with 10 young adults and the final refined questionnaire was distributed to 200 young adults to measure their readiness in adoption of real time mental health system. The outcome of the research is to recommend the Government policy implications on Smart Real-time Mental Health System that can be adopted as national wide successfully in ensuring to invigorate health care among the young adults in Malaysia.
Keywords: Real-time System, Mental Health, Adoption, Young Adult, Malaysia, Covid-19 ___________________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction
The coronavirus pandemic has a “profound and pervasive impact” on global mental health.
Even after the current round of lockdowns are eased, these symptoms will be likely to continue in the future (NST, 2020). Mental illness is anticipated to be the second biggest health problem affecting the Malaysians. Based on the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey, every three in 10 adults aged 16 years and above struggle from some form of mental health issues in Malaysia. As said by Consultant Psychiatrist at University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) Associate Professor Dr Ng Chong Guan, there are several reasons why it’s so difficult to get treatment in Malaysia. Firstly, there are insufficient number of psychiatrists, secondly, insurance companies do not cover their employees for mental health treatments and lastly patients often do not volunteer information about their condition due to the humiliation that get it from society (Nazari, 2019).
Researchers reported that digital mental health care helped the incidence of psychological distress among Chinese citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, global health care experts are urgently calling people to access the digital mental care. Smart healthcare is a health service system that uses technology such as IoT, and internet to connect people,
dynamically access information and allows to easily access the advice. In the light of current developments in the COvid-19 crisis, successful real-time application is important for healthcare (Babulak, 2020). People with serious mental illness find it difficult to get mental health care. Instead, many people are finding help and information on their illness through internet, particularly on social media (Walker, 2019). Today, social media is the biggest place for people to receive help from one another who are like-minded individuals. Experts have noted that early identification and intervention in young people’s mental health will provide a tremendous opportunity to improve long-term outcomes. Unfortunately, there is still limited research on how digital technology enhance emotional well-being of young adult.
2. Research Background
Digital technology, including social media, and smartphones offer a more accessible and tailored approach to mental healthcare. However, the evidence base for remote mental health treatments in real-life circumstances remains inadequate (Hollis et al., 2018). The challenges patients in Malaysia face, such as rising cost of healthcare and overfilled government hospitals, can be resolved through smart health care that is affordable and intelligent solutions (Dr Hisham Abdullah told to The Edge Malaysia, 2019). While research on smart mental health system is very limited, there are still significant challenges in increasing the adoption and integrating them into users’ daily lives (Clarke, 2020).
In a comprehensive review of smart technology interventions in primary care, most of the studies supported the use of smart technology in primary care (Bashshur et al., 2016).
However, there is not much data yet on patient adoption rates and how the technology affects patient outcomes (Hategan et al., 2019). Besides, there is an “urgent need to take initiative from Health Ministry to seriously look into insurance coverage for mental healthcare and treatment for Malaysians” said by Malaysia Psychiatric Association Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (Timbuong, 2019). Although young people find social networking site –based interventions highly usable, engaging, and supportive, research evidence for their effectiveness in reducing mental health symptoms is currently lacking (Eysenbach, 2018) that urgently call for future researchers to look into it (Hechanova and Waelde, 2017). Hence, this study proposed to investigate the cause and effects of smart real-time mental system adoption among the young adults in Malaysia in post Covid-19.
3. Literature Review
Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI) - An innovation is a concept or activity that is considered new by a person or another unit of adoption (Rogers, 2003). Rogers defined “the diffusion of Innovation theory (DOI) as the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system”. According to DOI, the rate of diffusion is calculated by four main elements: the characteristics of innovation, effectiveness of communication networks, time and the social environment.
Fitzgerald et al., (2016) also emphasized that with the communication channels being either interpersonal or network interconnectedness through socio practices can drive the adoption.
Several studies demonstrated the importance of social support and social network for persons with health problems. Therefore, professionals should assist vulnerable groups by providing professional services through network (Stepherd et al., 2015).
Health behaviour theories - Health behaviour refers to any action performed by a person to encourage, protect or preserve health (Nutbeam, 1998). Some scholars introduced health
behaviour theories into their research models to investigate the influence on user attitude and behavioural intention of technology health adoption. Hence, smart real-time mental health system adoption is not only a technology acceptance behaviour, but also a health-related behaviour (Zhao et al., 2018).
Adoption of Real-time mental health system- Using technology is changing the way we receive health care in exciting ways. Through using social media and web-based conferencing, patients will be empowered to make educated choices about how they will treat their health, and healthcare providers would be able to provide cost-effective and creative treatment across vast distances. By integrating all the smart technology properly, Real-time Mental health system is proving to be as effective as face-to-face services but also reduce costs, improve the quality of care, and overcome challenges that are present in the current health care system (E-Mental Health in Canada, 2014). Technology is directed by how well it works for the people using it, hence the user adoption and alignment with business objectives are main challenges for healthcare IT decision makers.
Past research suggested for more laborious research to be conducted to uncover the actionable factors that influence digital consultation and health information technology adoption (Maarop et al., 2011). Hence, Hilthy et al., (2017) urgently call for new research undertaking on evidence-based interventions of Real-time mental health system to ensure that tragedy responders aware the impact of real-time mental health support system.
Awareness of Mental Health Insurance – The current health insurance system in Malaysia is intended to cover acute medical services. But it fails to provide medical needs for mental illness patients. Hence, the cost of mental health services has always been a burden for people with mental health problems. Recently, The Malaysia Psychiatric Association (MPA) has demanded that mental health treatment to be included in health insurance premiums (NST, 2020). Abdulmalik et al (2019) and Ebrahimi et al (2018) conclude that lack of resources and inadequate access to mental health results in patients and family members themselves having to bear high economic and psychosocial costs.
Social influence (through social media) - In this dynamic environment, new technologies in communications, have the potential to improve the emergency medical response (Chan et al., 2004). Social networks allow individuals to share the information and get the social support from other network members (Viswanath, 2008).
These lead to a variety of positive social outcomes such as trust and engagement that engender for better health (Nieminen et al., 2013). Besides it enhances psychological well- being, such as self-esteem and satisfaction with life (Nabi et al., 2013).
A study by Kim and Kim (2017) also described that using of social media among the college students can positively link to social capital and subjective well-being. Although, young people find social networking site – based interventions highly usable, engaging, and supportive, research evidence for their efficacy in reducing mental health symptoms is currently lacking (Eysenbach, 2018).
Based on the limitation on diffusion of innovation theory, this study has proposed social influence and awareness as a mean to support to adoption behaviour that enhance the emotional well-being of young adult in Post Covid Era. Diagram 1 shows the proposed Framework of the study.
Figure 1: Research framework for intention to adopt Real-mental health system to enhance emotional well-being of young adult
H1. Awareness of mental health insurance coverage impact on intention to adopt the Smart Real-Time mental health system among the young adult.
H2: Social influence (through social media) impact on intention to adopt of Smart Real-Time mental health system among the young adult.
H3: Intention to adopt the Smart Real-Time mental health system enhances emotional well- being of young adult.
4. Research Methodology
The population of this study comprised of young adults in Malaysia. The samples were selected using convenient sampling. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in this study. Online interviews were conducted to10 young adults who went through fear and anxiety due to Covid-19. During the preliminary analysis, the subject measures for each variable were assessed using the Likert Five-point scales. Finally, a pilot test of 20 responses was carried out. This helps to ensure that the survey questionnaire is accurate and reliable.
The final refined questionnaires were distributed to 200 young adults. Survey data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software and analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) statistical software. Lastly, a framework for modelling the Adoption of Smart Real-time mental health system to Enhance emotional Well-being of young adults can be confirmed via the Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis.
5. Conclusion
Social media motivates people to make social changes and provides a platform for young people to open up their feeling and allowing them to have a say on issues that matter to them.
Hence, it is not only a powerful tool to support the young people to learn and share but also Factors of
Adoption Intention to adopt Real-time mental health system
Emotional well- being of young adult
Social influence (through social
media)
Awareness of mental health insurance
affect their emotional and mental health. There are past studies support that social media usage is contribution factor in declining mental well-being among young people.
One of the important solutions to minimize the mental health problem is the inclusion of mental illnesses for health insurance coverage. Hence, covering families with health insurance is a necessary act if the financial risks are to be guarded. The present study proposes the framework of smart real-time mental system adoption that enhance emotional well-being of young adults in Malaysia in post Covid-19. This study also looks at social media and awareness of mental health insurance as moderating roles in strengthening the young adult intention to adopt real-time mental health system.
6. Future Research
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is greatly affecting life around the globe.
Especially young adults are at a significant and crucial time of life. While the benefits of social distancing have been largely related to physical health, the downside has been the impact on young people’s mental health. This research focuses on the emotional well-being of young adult in post covid-19 era and how social media and insurance coverage escalates the intention to adopt the real time mental health system. Critique review of existing research on young adult mental health highlight the current issue to be addressed urgently. It also is meant to show the pathway intended at a larger effort to guide future researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Future studies will move beyond the current study to examine other factors impacting young people's mental health. Finally, more factors impacting youth mental health with regard to COVID-19 should be studied.
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