Mobile Health and COVID-19

The proposed research focuses on evaluating the mobile application, Easing Anxiety Sensitivity for Everyone (EASE), to improve overall public health that concerns risks and mental health status during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to minimize the existing health disparities among Black, Hispanic and Latino, and American Indian (BLAI) individuals during this time. EASE provides COVID-19 symptom monitoring, exposure management skills, and psychoeducation on stress and it's impact on infection and disease susceptibility. This study aims to compare the effect of EASE to an empirical measurement of standard-of-care digital intervention and to identify the effective mechanisms in EASE.

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years of age * Self-identify as Black, Latinx, American Indian, or NLW * Clinically significant anxiety and/or depressive symptoms as evinced by a score of 8 or higher on the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) and/or Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS) * Reside in Texas or Oklahoma * Willing/able to complete EMAs on study provided or personal smartphone for 6-month study period * Willing and able to complete the 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments via the app and over the phone (i.e., qualitative interview) * Score ≥ 4 on the REALM-Short Form indicating \> 6th grade English literacy level (needed to complete EMAs) Exclusion Criteria: * Not fluent in English * Lifetime or significant cognitive impairment * Identifying as a race/ethnicity for which the corresponding study cell has been filled