Identifying the Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Emotion Regulation Among Youth Using the JoyPop App: Survey Study.

Abstract

Background: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is an important threshold to consider when evaluating the meaningfulness of improvement following an intervention. The JoyPop app is an evidence-based smartphone app designed to improve resilience and emotion regulation. Information is needed regarding the JoyPop app's MCID among culturally diverse youth.

Objective: This study aims to calculate the MCID for youth using the JoyPop app and to explore how the MCID may differ for a subset of Indigenous youth.

Methods: Youth (N=36; aged 12-18 years) were recruited to use the JoyPop app for up to 4 weeks as part of a larger pilot evaluation. Results were based on measures completed after 2 weeks of app use. The MCID was calculated using emotion regulation change scores (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation-Short Form [DERS-SF]) and subjective ratings on the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRCS). This MCID calculation was completed for youth overall and separately for Indigenous youth only.

Results: A significant correlation between GRCS scores and change scores on the DERS-SF supported face validity (r=-0.37; P=.04). The MCID in emotion regulation following the use of the JoyPop app for youth overall was 2.80 on the DERS-SF. The MCID for Indigenous youth was 4.29 on the DERS-SF. In addition, most youth reported improved emotion regulation after using the JoyPop app.

Conclusions: These MCID findings provide a meaningful threshold for improvement in emotion regulation for the JoyPop app. They provide potential effect sizes and can aid in sample size estimations for future research with the JoyPop app or e-mental health technologies in general. The difference between overall youth and Indigenous youth MCID values also highlights the importance of patient-oriented ratings of symptom improvement as well as cultural considerations when conducting intervention research and monitoring new interventions in clinical practice.