Theoretical advances in mobile health communication research: An empowerment approach to self-management

This chapter introduces an empowerment approach for understanding mHealth usage behaviors in the context of chronic disease self-management, with a focus on diabetes. Empowerment, a multidimensional approach including both psychological and social support dimensions, has been proven a fundamental motivational antecedent of self-management. This approach addresses shortcomings of traditional technology adoption and usage models that deliver explanations for mHealth. In doing so, this chapter addresses the general lack in theory in the mainly applied mHealth research field, which has examined empowerment as an outcome of mHealth use. In contrast, we propose empowerment as an antecedent of mHealth use to deepen our understanding of overall technology-supported self-management processes. A model on relationships between empowerment, mHealth use, and self-management is outlined, examining smart device apps for diabetes self-management as an exemplary case.