HowNutsAreTheDutch (HoeGekIsNL): A crowdsourcing study of mental symptoms and strengths

Lian Van Der Krieke, Bertus F. Jeronimus*, Frank J. Blaauw, Rob B. K. Wanders, Ando C. Emerencia, Hendrika M. Schenk, Stijn De Vos, Evelien Snippe, Marieke Wichers, Johanna T. W. Wigman, Elisabeth H. Bos, Klaas J. Wardenaar, Peter De Jonge

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

HowNutsAreTheDutch (Dutch: HoeGekIsNL) is a national crowdsourcing study designed to investigate multiple continuous mental health dimensions in a sample from the general population (n?=?12,503). Its main objective is to create an empirically based representation of mental strengths and vulnerabilities, accounting for (i) dimensionality and heterogeneity, (ii) interactivity between symptoms and strengths, and (iii) intra-individual variability. To do so, HowNutsAreTheDutch (HND) makes use of an internet platform that allows participants to (a) compare themselves to other participants via cross-sectional questionnaires and (b) to monitor themselves three times a day for 30?days with an intensive longitudinal diary study via their smartphone. These data enable for personalized feedback to participants, a study of profiles of mental strengths and weaknesses, and zooming into the fine-grained level of dynamic relationships between variables over time. Measuring both psychiatric symptomatology and mental strengths and resources enables for an investigation of their interactions, which may underlie the wide variety of observed mental states in the population. The present paper describes the applied methods and technology, and presents the sample characteristics.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-144
JournalInternational Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Keywords

  • mental symptoms
  • mental strengths and resources
  • longitudinal
  • ecological momentary assessment
  • crowdsourcing

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