Unlocking the Potential for Smart Technology Adoption: Leveraging Mental Health Apps for Improved Well‐Being

ABSTRACT Improving access to and transition through complex mental healthcare systems can be challenging because of the intricacy of the pathways and barriers that individuals may encounter. However, as the relationship between information technology and health applications progresses, the accessibility of mental health apps can provide a solution by offering advantages for individuals seeking help. This evolution in technology presents new opportunities for promoting well‐being. In this paper, a conceptual model is formulated that utilises affordance theory to investigate, through empirical testing, the necessity of need existence and individual cognitions in enabling users to comprehend the materiality of technology and its particular affordances in diverse situations. A mixed‐methods approach is employed for collecting the data from India. For qualitative analysis, 266 reviews of seven notable mental health apps are collected from app stores, social media and other online forums. For quantitative research, 428 users are included in the study. The study yielded significant findings. It demonstrated a positive and statistically significant relationship between the existence of affordances and their perception. Moreover, the study found a direct correlation between willingness to adopt smart technology and continued usage behaviour. Affordability, which is analyzed as a mediator, was found to partially mediate the relationship between willingness to adopt smart technology and continued usage behaviour. Additionally, the study revealed that user experience had a significant moderating effect.