AccScience Publishing / JCI / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/JCI025310026
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

The impact of a stress, emotional regulation, and support mobile health intervention in millennial family caregivers: A pilot study

Megan C. Thomas Hebdon1* ,  Cheongin Rachel Im2 ,  Sandi Alshahwan1 ,  Michael Thomas3 ,  Neil Peterson1,2 ,  Janice Hernandez2 ,  Heather Cuevas2 ,  Sharon Horner2
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1 College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
2 School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
3 College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
JCI, 025310026 https://doi.org/10.36922/JCI025310026
Received: 1 August 2025 | Revised: 7 November 2025 | Accepted: 26 December 2025 | Published online: 11 February 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Millennial family caregivers are a growing and unique population, with specific needs related to their life stage and generational experiences. Many are navigating careers, family building, and the impact of multiple economic recessions, in addition to family caregiving responsibilities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct pilot feasibility and acceptability testing of an app-based stress, emotional regulation, and support intervention that was informed by both the stress process model and the dynamic fit model. Participants were recruited using online recruitment strategies, and a rigorous fraud protocol was used to identify fraudulent participants. Following consent and randomization, participants in the treatment group received an app-based intervention with mindfulness, journaling, and support resources, and were instructed to use these interventions daily. The control group received similar, abbreviated content in the form of written education. Caregiver burden, stress, positive affect and well-being, and social support were measured at baseline and 6 weeks. Twenty-one caregivers completed the 6-week post-intervention measurement (n = 9 intervention; n = 12 control). Recruitment, retention, and adherence rates were adequate, and acceptability was high. There were no between-group differences, but the intervention group had statistically significant improvements in positive affect, well-being, and social support. This study highlights the potential of a mobile health stress, emotional regulation, and support intervention for millennial family caregivers.

Keywords
Mobile health
Family caregiver
Millennials
Stress
Emotional regulation
Social support
Funding
This study was funded by the St. David’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations at the University of Texas at Austin.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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