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Mobile-Based Ecological Momentary Interventions for Grief in China and Switzerland: Protocol for a Collaborative and
Ayala Sara Licht-Handler1, Chenchen Lin1, Eva-Maria Stelzer1
1Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlenstrasse 14, Zürich, 8050, Switzerland, 41 0446357441.
JMIR Research Protocols
|June 9, 2026
Summary
Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) offer accessible grief support tailored to cultural contexts. This study develops culturally relevant EMIs for grief in China and Switzerland, aiming to improve support accessibility.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health Research
- Digital Health Interventions
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
Background:
- Bereavement is a universal human experience, often challenging and disruptive.
- Prolonged grief disorder is increasingly recognized, necessitating accessible support.
- Current grief research predominantly originates from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) countries, limiting global applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development protocol for two Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) for grief support.
- To create culturally relevant grief support tools for individuals in China and Switzerland.
- To explore the adaptation of grief interventions for delivery via EMIs in diverse cultural settings.
Main Methods:
- Collaborative research approach involving grief experts, bereaved individuals, and research teams.
- Development of culturally specific intervention content through consultation and feedback.
- Iterative refinement of protocols to ensure user acceptability and contextual appropriateness.
Main Results:
- Two distinct yet similar development protocols for grief EMIs are being created for China and Switzerland.
- Recruitment is underway, with initial data collection and interviews completed in the Chinese cohort.
- The study is on track for results by late 2026, focusing on intervention component extraction and app development.
Conclusions:
- Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) show promise for expanding access to grief support globally.
- Adapting grief interventions for EMI format presents unique challenges and requires careful consideration of cultural factors.
- This research highlights the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in digital mental health interventions.
