Journal article
Young Adults Using Apps for Alternative Spirituality
Psychology of religion and spirituality
08 Jan 2026
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of young adults using spiritual (New Age) mobile applications. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of 10 semistructured interviews conducted with a diverse group of young adults aged 20-28, who used either more secular (meditation-focused) or more New Age spiritual applications (with an emphasis on practices such as astrology or tarot). All 10 apps were experienced by the participants as contributing to their spiritual practice. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the interviews produced nine themes that highlight the diversity of experiences associated with app engagement. Both secular and spiritual apps were perceived as part of one's spiritual lifestyle, but in different ways. The themes reflect a focus on practical self-care and the management of everyday psychological and social challenges, rather than on "older" New Age practices such as interaction with supernatural entities or the pursuit of enlightenment experiences. Secular apps were primarily seen as facilitating individual meditation practices, while spiritual apps were used and experienced more socially, though participants also noted the risk of encountering negative predictions. Even applications not explicitly designed for spiritual purposes may be experienced and used as such. This study demonstrates that mobile apps, especially when used with care and intention, can support alternative spiritual practices in various ways. However, certain technical aspects of these apps may also be experienced as counterproductive to one's spirituality.
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Details
- Title
- Young Adults Using Apps for Alternative Spirituality
- Creators
- Heidi K. Toivonen - Franklin University SwitzerlandTim Gorichanaz - Drexel University, Information Science
- Publication Details
- Psychology of religion and spirituality
- Publisher
- Educational Publishing Foundation-American Psychological Assoc
- Number of pages
- 14
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Information Science
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001655592700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105031249923
- Other Identifier
- 991022152825004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
- Religion