Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification

Attention Bias Modification (ABM) is a cost-effective mood intervention that has the potential to be used in daily settings beyond clinical environments. However, its interactivity and user engagement are known to be limited and underexplored. Here, we propose Uplifting Moods, a novel mood intervent...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yun Jung Yeh, Sarah S. Jo, Youngjun Cho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Software
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-113X/4/2/8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850165032844787712
author Yun Jung Yeh
Sarah S. Jo
Youngjun Cho
author_facet Yun Jung Yeh
Sarah S. Jo
Youngjun Cho
author_sort Yun Jung Yeh
collection DOAJ
description Attention Bias Modification (ABM) is a cost-effective mood intervention that has the potential to be used in daily settings beyond clinical environments. However, its interactivity and user engagement are known to be limited and underexplored. Here, we propose Uplifting Moods, a novel mood intervention app that combines gamified ABM and augmented reality (AR) to address the limitation associated with the repetitive nature of ABM. By harnessing the benefits of mobile AR’s low-cost, portable, and accessible characteristics, this approach is to help users easily take part in ABM, positively shifting one’s emotions. We conducted a mixed methods study with 24 participants, which involves a controlled experiment with Self-Assessment Manikin as its primary measure and a semi-structured interview. Our analysis reports that the approach uniquely adds fun, exploring, and challenging features, helping improve engagement and feeling more cheerful and less under control. It also highlights the importance of personalization and consideration of gaming style, music preference, and socialization in designing a daily AR ABM game as an effective mental wellbeing intervention.
format Article
id doaj-art-3979af0e62b4449d9947e4d7d5b91fa8
institution OA Journals
issn 2674-113X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Software
spelling doaj-art-3979af0e62b4449d9947e4d7d5b91fa82025-08-20T02:21:50ZengMDPI AGSoftware2674-113X2025-04-0142810.3390/software4020008Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias ModificationYun Jung Yeh0Sarah S. Jo1Youngjun Cho2Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UKRRT<i>AI</i>, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Computer Science, University College London, London, UKAttention Bias Modification (ABM) is a cost-effective mood intervention that has the potential to be used in daily settings beyond clinical environments. However, its interactivity and user engagement are known to be limited and underexplored. Here, we propose Uplifting Moods, a novel mood intervention app that combines gamified ABM and augmented reality (AR) to address the limitation associated with the repetitive nature of ABM. By harnessing the benefits of mobile AR’s low-cost, portable, and accessible characteristics, this approach is to help users easily take part in ABM, positively shifting one’s emotions. We conducted a mixed methods study with 24 participants, which involves a controlled experiment with Self-Assessment Manikin as its primary measure and a semi-structured interview. Our analysis reports that the approach uniquely adds fun, exploring, and challenging features, helping improve engagement and feeling more cheerful and less under control. It also highlights the importance of personalization and consideration of gaming style, music preference, and socialization in designing a daily AR ABM game as an effective mental wellbeing intervention.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-113X/4/2/8augmented reality-based mood interventiongamification for mental wellbeingattention bias modificationUplifting Moods
spellingShingle Yun Jung Yeh
Sarah S. Jo
Youngjun Cho
Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification
Software
augmented reality-based mood intervention
gamification for mental wellbeing
attention bias modification
Uplifting Moods
title Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification
title_full Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification
title_fullStr Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification
title_full_unstemmed Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification
title_short Uplifting Moods: Augmented Reality-Based Gamified Mood Intervention App with Attention Bias Modification
title_sort uplifting moods augmented reality based gamified mood intervention app with attention bias modification
topic augmented reality-based mood intervention
gamification for mental wellbeing
attention bias modification
Uplifting Moods
url https://www.mdpi.com/2674-113X/4/2/8
work_keys_str_mv AT yunjungyeh upliftingmoodsaugmentedrealitybasedgamifiedmoodinterventionappwithattentionbiasmodification
AT sarahsjo upliftingmoodsaugmentedrealitybasedgamifiedmoodinterventionappwithattentionbiasmodification
AT youngjuncho upliftingmoodsaugmentedrealitybasedgamifiedmoodinterventionappwithattentionbiasmodification