The efficacy of mindfulness meditation apps in enhancing users' well-being and mental health related outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation apps in improving well-being and mental-health outcomes through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Results Summary
The study found significant effect sizes for perceived stress, well-being, and mental-health outcomes, suggesting mindfulness apps are promising, though results should be interpreted cautiously due to study limitations like small sample sizes and heterogeneity.
Population
General population (N = 7566 across 34 trials)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness meditation app | decrease | perceived stress | - | g = 0.46, 95% CI [0.24, .68] | significant effect sizes were found | #1 |
mindfulness meditation app | decrease | depression | - | g = 0.33, 95% CI [0.11, .55] | significant effect sizes were found | #2 |
mindfulness meditation app | decrease | anxiety | - | g = 0.43, 95% CI [0.19, .67] | significant effect sizes were found | #3 |
mindfulness meditation app | increase | well-being | - | g = 0.39, 95% CI [0.09, .69] | significant effect sizes were found | #4 |
mindfulness meditation app | increase | mindfulness | - | g = 0.32, 95% CI [0.15, .49] | significant effect sizes were found | #5 |
mindfulness meditation app | increase | well-being | - | - | seem promising in improving | #6 |
mindfulness meditation app | increase | mental-health | - | - | seem promising in improving | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Mindfulness applications are popular tools for improving well-being, but their effectiveness is unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that employed a mindfulness meditation app as the main intervention to improve users' well-being and mental-health related outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, the Cochrane Library, Open Grey and ResearchGate through June, 2020. Effects were calculated as standardized mean difference (Hedges' g) between app-delivered mindfulness interventions and control conditions at post-test and pooled with a random-effects model. RESULTS: From 2637 records, we selected 34 trials (N = 7566). Significant effect sizes were found at post-test for perceived stress (n = 15; g = 0.46, 95% CI [0.24, .68], I CONCLUSION AND LIMITATIONS: Mindfulness apps seem promising in improving well-being and mental-health, though results should be interpreted carefully due to the small number of included studies, overall uncertain risk of bias and heterogeneity.