Positive Psychology Based Assistive App for Students with Autism

Abstract

Autistic young adults experience high levels of stress, often lacking effective coping mechanisms and facing limited support services after transitioning into adulthood. While traditional interventions primarily focus on symptom alleviation, positive psychology offers an alternative approach by focusing on strengths and encouraging resilience. Digital journaling, a widely recognized tool for self-reflection and stress management, offers a potential solution here, but often requires thoughtful design to guarantee sustained engagement. This study explores the design, development and evaluation of a digital journaling app tailored for autistic young adults, focusing on engagement, usability, and stress reduction. Through interactive participatory design sessions with autistic young adults and HCI researchers, key design requirements were identified, emphasizing simplicity, interaction, and personalization. The app includes features such as mood tracking, a customizable avatar, and guided journaling prompts to encourage regular use. This study explores three key research questions: (1) the design requirements shaped by participatory input, (2) user perceptions of app usability and engagement, and (3) the relationship between app usage and perceived stress. Results from the evaluation phase revealed moderate usability and engagement scores, with participants valuing the app's simple UI, avatar customisation, and positive prompts. However, there was no significant reduction in stress levels, although qualitative feedback suggested potential value in the app’s motivational features. These findings contribute to the growing body of research on neurodivergent-inclusive technology design and show the potential of digital journaling as a stress management tool for autistic young adults. The study’s limitations include a small sample size, short study duration, and usability challenges, suggesting the need for longitudinal studies and further user interface refinements. Future work should focus on refining AI-driven prompts, expanding customization options, and assessing long-term engagement and stress reduction effects.