The effects of app-based mindfulness practice on the well-being of university students and staff

Oskari Lahtinen, Jenni Aaltonen, Johanna Kaakinen, Lena Franklin, Jukka Hyönä, Oskari Lahtinen, Jenni Aaltonen, Johanna Kaakinen, Lena Franklin, Jukka Hyönä

Abstract

Mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and stress have been increasing in many countries and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated their toll. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to provide evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression, and accumulating evidence is emerging in support of using mindfulness apps yielding small-to-moderate treatment effects. The study was a 4-week randomized controlled trial with 561 university students and staff as participants, divided into a treatment group (mindfulness app) and an active control group (psychoeducational online content). Depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated as primary study outcomes. Saliva cortisol samples were also collected from a subgroup of the treatment arm (n = 29). Using the mindfulness app for four weeks resulted in small reductions in stress (d = .16), and depression (d = .16). Attrition was 28.0%. Subjects who practiced more did not experience additional improvement in wellbeing. Mindfulness apps offer modest but clear benefits to users in terms of improved mental health. They present a promising supplement to traditional mental health services.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Mindfulness; Mindfulness-app; Students; University staff.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestA4 developed the studied apps. Other authors declare no other potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

© The Author(s) 2021.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Process chart from recruitment to post-measurement

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