Improvements in Stress, Affect, and Irritability Following Brief Use of a Mindfulness-based Smartphone App: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- PMID: 30294390
- PMCID: PMC6153897
- DOI: 10.1007/s12671-018-0905-4
Improvements in Stress, Affect, and Irritability Following Brief Use of a Mindfulness-based Smartphone App: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Mindfulness training, which involves observing thoughts and feelings without judgment or reaction, has been shown to improve aspects of psychosocial well-being when delivered via in-person training programs such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Less is known about the efficacy of digital training mediums, such as smartphone apps, which are rapidly rising in popularity. In this study, novice meditators were randomly allocated to an introductory mindfulness meditation program or to a psychoeducational audiobook control featuring an introduction to the concepts of mindfulness and meditation. The interventions were delivered via the same mindfulness app, were matched across a range of criteria, and were presented to participants as well-being programs. Affect, irritability, and two distinct components of stress were measured immediately before and after each intervention in a cohort of healthy adults. While both interventions were effective at reducing stress associated with personal vulnerability, only the mindfulness intervention had a significant positive impact on irritability, affect, and stress resulting from external pressure (between group Cohen's d = 0.44, 0.47, 0.45, respectively). These results suggest that brief mindfulness training has a beneficial impact on several aspects of psychosocial well-being, and that smartphone apps are an effective delivery medium for mindfulness training.
Keywords: Digital health; Meditation; Mindfulness; Positive affect; Smartphone app; Stress; Well-being.
Conflict of interest statement
Compliance with Ethical StandardsAll procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University College London (UCL) Ethics Committee (project ID 2789/001) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. ME, JM, MJB, and BS were employed by Headspace Inc. at the time of conducting this study.
Figures
Similar articles
-
The efficacy of a brief app-based mindfulness intervention on psychosocial outcomes in healthy adults: A pilot randomised controlled trial.PLoS One. 2018 Dec 31;13(12):e0209482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209482. eCollection 2018. PLoS One. 2018. PMID: 30596696 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an App-Based Mindfulness-Meditation Program Among Older Adults.Gerontologist. 2021 Jul 13;61(5):775-786. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaa093. Gerontologist. 2021. PMID: 32663286
-
Effectiveness of using a meditation app in reducing anxiety and improving well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2020 Dec 9;21(1):1006. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04935-6. Trials. 2020. PMID: 33298117 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Mindfulness and bodily distress.Dan Med J. 2012 Nov;59(11):B4547. Dan Med J. 2012. PMID: 23171754 Review.
-
Engagement Strategies to Improve Adherence and Retention in Web-Based Mindfulness Programs: Systematic Review.J Med Internet Res. 2022 Jan 12;24(1):e30026. doi: 10.2196/30026. J Med Internet Res. 2022. PMID: 35019851 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Meditation Mobile App Intervention for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 May 2;21(5):584. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21050584. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024. PMID: 38791797 Free PMC article.
-
At-home use of app-based mindfulness for children: A randomized active-controlled trial.Mindfulness (N Y). 2023 Nov;14(11):2728-2744. doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02231-3. Epub 2023 Oct 9. Mindfulness (N Y). 2023. PMID: 38654938
-
Psychometric properties of the Arabic versions of the long (27 items) and short (13 items) forms of the interpersonal mindfulness scale (IMS).BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Apr 3;24(1):253. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05674-7. BMC Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38570793 Free PMC article.
-
Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students.Front Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 2;15:1340101. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1340101. eCollection 2024. Front Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38370557 Free PMC article.
-
Effectiveness of gamified digital interventions in mental health prevention and health promotion among adults: a scoping review.BMC Public Health. 2024 Jan 2;24(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17517-3. BMC Public Health. 2024. PMID: 38167010 Free PMC article. Review.
References
-
- Bennike IH, Wieghorst A, Kirk U. Online-based mindfulness training reduces behavioral markers of mind wandering. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. 2017;11(3):230–210.
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources