Emotional Technologies of the Self is a collaborative research project being run by researchers and the University of Kent and Durham University.

We are asking questions around how people use ‘Mood apps’, what sort of relationships develop with these technologies, and how these apps change or do not change people’s relationships with their emotions.

We are currently looking for mood app users to interview, as we believe that these apps are a potentially important new technology that open interesting questions around mental health, emotions, and technology. The best way to understand this is by talking to the people who use these technologies about their experiences.

What is this project about?

People are increasingly concerned about mental health issues, and mood apps have become an accessible way to gain some mental health support for many. Thus, it is important to study these new technologies not only to see if they help, but also to see how they are used to manage emotional well-being, and what sort of relationships are developing between people and these technologies. Right now, there is little information on, for example, how mood apps might change the way people think about their emotions.

This study ‘Emotional technologies of the self’’ aims to address some of these questions. It is part of a research project funded by the University of Kent and has been approved by the University’s Research Ethics Committee.

If I take part, what do I have to do?

If you would like to take part, please contact Dr Vince Miller by email and we can arrange a mutually convenient time for a video interview call. The interview will be conducted by Dr Miller and will take around one hour. We will ask you about you and your experiences with mood apps, how you use them, what affects they might have had.

Participation is voluntary, you can change your mind and end the interview at any time. Before deciding, it is important that you understand what this study is about and what will happen if you agree to take part, so will be provided with a project information sheet in advance so you know exactly what to expect, and how we will treat any information you give us.

Want to participate?

If you would like to take part in this study or simply find out more, please contact Dr Vince Miller by email me at v.miller@kent.ac.uk.