AUTHOR=Forsythe Alexandra Mary , Venter Catherine TITLE=Behavioral Economics, Motivating Psycho-Education Improvements: A Mobile Technology Initiative in South Africa JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01560 DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01560 ISSN=1664-1078 ABSTRACT=

Here we report on a health behavioral support project, using incentivized behavior on a mobile platform through M4JAM. This was a proof of concept study to support further developments, more specifically targeted at the management of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus. The study reported here examines the impact of financial rewards and app toward improving mental health outcomes in South Africa. A total of 136 participants were recruited from a database and dichotomized into self-determined and heteronomous groups based on self-report scores. Overall the findings reported here highlight that personal financial incentives have a role in motivating behavior. The findings are discussed in light of the usefulness of an incentivized mobile platform in real-world practice to encourage mental health improvements in low- to middle-income countries.