Mobile health apps play a vital role in modern health progress, where reminders, in

the form of push notifications, have been a key feature in ensuring motivation and

ongoing progress. However, a careful consideration of all aspects of notification

design is crucial in ensuring healthy user engagement and a good experience. One

of these aspects being the users’ emotional response from current notification

designs. This study investigates the impact of health app notifications on users’

emotional responses, to act as a guidance for developers in this field. Quantitative

and qualitative data was collected to understand users’ perceptions and feelings

towards health app notifications, through the use of a survey and interviews.

Findings revealed that a great number of users experience negative emotions from

notifications, where the predominant reasoning is lack of tailoring in areas of

notification frequency and content. In addition, when notifications fail to engage users,

they provoke a negative emotional response such as guilt and frustration. A pattern is

seen in interview results, where those that receive notifications too often are also

those that experience negative emotions and don't engage/follow notifications.

In addition, they mentioned that the content within the notifications are annoying,

sometimes overwhelming, pushy, commanding and demanding. Those that receive

less or customized notifications experience positive emotions and engage more, while

also talking positively of notification content. For some users, the stress caused by

notifications makes them take action right away, which shows an unhealthy

engagement in some cases.

Recommendations following this study's results include changing the tone of

notification messages, providing more opportunities for detailed tailoring, and

integrating feedback systems within the apps. The study contributes not only to the

development of health apps but also the health of its users, which is the first and

foremost aim of health apps.