Acceptability, Usage, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Mindfulness Training App among College Students

Autor/in	LaMontagne, Liva G.
Titel	Acceptability, Usage, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Mindfulness Training App among College Students
Quelle	(2023), (144 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Florida
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	979-8-3797-5198-2
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; College Students; Metacognition; Training; Computer Software; Handheld Devices; Use Studies; Intervention; Stress Variables; Anxiety; Depression (Psychology); Response to Intervention; Computer Oriented Programs + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Collegestudent; Meta cognitive ability; Meta-cognition; Metakognitive Fähigkeit; Metakognition; Ausbildung; Benutzerschulung; Angst; Computerprogramm
Abstract	Mindfulness apps have shown promise to reduce stress and improve well-being among college students however the mechanisms of these beneficial effects are less clear. In addition, findings are inconclusive about the necessary dose of mindfulness app usage to achieve improvements in mental health. Thus, more dose-response research is needed on mindfulness training apps broadly and on proximal outcomes among college students, specifically. The current randomized pilot study assessed the relationships between acceptability, usage, and preliminary outcomes of a mindfulness training app among 40 college students, ages 18 - 24. Participants were asked to use the Brightmind mindfulness app or the 2048 math game for 4 weeks, daily before bed. I examined feasibility of study procedures and within- and between-group effects of the intervention on proximal and distal outcomes. Proximal outcomes were applied mindfulness processes, positive emotions, and interoceptive awareness. Distal outcomes were stress, anxiety, depression, and flourishing. In addition, I explored intervention effects on heart rate variability (HRV). Participants found the Brightmind app easy to use but also struggled with falling asleep. Results revealed significant pre-post increases in proximal outcomes in the mindfulness group. Negative emotion regulation and decentering increased with large effect sizes, and fatigue decreased, and self-regulation increased with medium effect sizes. More usage was associated with larger increases in decentering, serenity, and attentiveness. Participants with lower stress, anxiety, and depression at baseline were less likely to use the app often. Results also showed between-group effects on proximal outcomes -- negative emotion regulation and interoceptive awareness increased more in the intervention group compared to control. In addition, HRV decreased more compared to resting levels in the control group, suggesting more cognitive effort during the math game compared to mindfulness. Although not statistically significant, depression decreased in the mindfulness group with a potentially clinically relevant effect size if corroborated in larger studies. Taken together, this study supports emotion regulation and interoceptive awareness as mechanisms of mindfulness and signals individual differences in intervention effects. Larger randomized controlled studies among participants with elevated stress levels are needed to test efficacy, mediation, and optimal dose for improving distal outcomes like depression. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01