Co-creating the Stress Autism Mate (SAM): development of an mHealth application for autistic adults using a design thinking approach

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van Asselt, A. & Roke, Y. (2025). Co-creating the Stress Autism Mate (SAM): development of an mHealth application for autistic adults using a design thinking approach. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 13(1), 2597607-2597607. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2025.2597607

Publication date: 7 Dec 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Alvin van Asselt *
  2. Yvette Roke

Abstract

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) applications are becoming increasingly popular for delivering mental health support, yet insights on how to tailor them effectively for autistic individuals remain limited. Methods: This paper describes the co-creation process of the Stress Autism Mate (SAM), a free, evidence-based stress management application for autistic adults. Results: Development was guided by the five stages of the Design Thinking framework: Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Various challenges encountered over seven years of development are outlined, along with the iterative refinements made to address them. Based on continuous feedback from autistic adults, development emphasised a minimalist, predictable interface, essential personalisation options, and stress-related insights readily applicable to daily life. Discussion: The lessons learned may offer practical guidance for designing tailored mHealth applications for autistic adults and other populations with specific needs or preferences.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
41
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
3 / 41 (7.3%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
5 / 156 (3.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 5 / 40 (12.5%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 5 / 148 (3.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
40 / 156 (25.6%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 34 / 148 (23.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
35 / 40 (87.5%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 35 / 156 (22.4%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 29 / 34 (85.3%).
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