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Meditation App Habits and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of Meditation App Users During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors:
Sara Cloonan at University of Georgia
Sara Cloonan
Rylan Fowers at Arizona State University
Rylan Fowers
Jennifer Huberty at Arizona State University
Jennifer Huberty
Chad Stecher
Chad Stecher
Chad Stecher
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Abstract

Mobile mindfulness meditation apps are an accessible resource for managing mental health during stressful life events. However, long-term stressors may warrant more persistent engagement with mindfulness meditation over time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic relationships between COVID-19-related worry, mindfulness meditation app use, mindfulness meditation habit strength, and mental health over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-report and app usage data were collected from a sample of mindfulness meditation app users at six time points between April 2020 and May 2021. Poisson regression models were used to analyze associations between COVID-19-related worry, multiple measures of mindfulness meditation app use, self-reported mindfulness meditation habit strength, and three mental health outcomes: anxiety, stress, and depression. COVID-19-related worry was associated with increased mindfulness meditation app use and higher rates of anxiety, stress, and depression (p < 0.001). Increases in mindfulness meditation app habit strength were associated with greater mindfulness meditation app use (p < 0.001). Increases in mindfulness meditation app habit strength were linked to more app use and, when other variables were taken into account, lower rates of anxiety, stress, and depression (p < 0.01). These findings underline the potential of regular use of mindfulness meditation apps in maintaining mental health during ongoing stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should investigate the causal relationship between mindfulness meditation app habits and mental health, as well as identify strategies to promote strong mindfulness meditation app habits that may protect mental health when exposed to prolonged and pervasive stressors. This study is not preregistered.
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Mindfulness (2023) 14:2276–2286
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02217-1
While fear and worry are common psychological responses
to stressful life events, prolonged exposure may compro-
mise the cognitive and emotional resources necessary for
adaptively coping with psychological distress (Fofana et
al., 2020). Critically, maladaptive coping responses have
been shown to exacerbate the adverse eects of stressful
life events on mental health outcomes, while adaptive cop-
ing responses (e.g., problem solving, perspective taking,
acceptance) have been associated with more positive mental
health outcomes (Görgen et al., 2014; Muñoz-Navarro et al.,
2021; Oti-Boadi et al., 2021; Pilch et al., 2021; Vintila et
al., 2023). Heightened levels of COVID-19-related fear and
worry have been linked to more frequent use of maladaptive
coping strategies such as rumination (Muñoz-Navarro et al.,
2021; Oti-Boadi et al., 2021; Pilch et al., 2021; Vintila et al.,
2023), so research is needed to identify and recommend the
Major adverse life events can trigger acute and chronic
stress responses that severely increase the risk of mental
health problems (Kleber, 2019; Thoits, 2010). The COVID-
19 pandemic has been a signicant stressor for many, caus-
ing abrupt disruptions to daily life and creating a large
burden on population-wide mental health. Fear and worry
related to COVID-19, such as feelings of uncertainty and
concerns for one’s health, have signicantly contributed to
the worsening of mental health during the pandemic (Fitz-
patrick et al., 2020; Kämpfen et al., 2020; Mertens et al.,
2020; Muñoz-Navarro et al., 2021; Simsir et al., 2022).
Sara Cloonan
sacloona@asu.edu
1 College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University,
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Abstract
Objectives Mobile mindfulness meditation apps are an accessible resource for managing mental health during stressful life
events. However, long-term stressors may warrant more persistent engagement with mindfulness meditation over time. The
purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic relationships between COVID-19-related worry, mindfulness medita-
tion app use, mindfulness meditation habit strength, and mental health over the rst year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method Self-report and app usage data were collected from a sample of mindfulness meditation app users at six time points
between April 2020 and May 2021. Poisson regression models were used to analyze associations between COVID-19-re-
lated worry, multiple measures of mindfulness meditation app use, self-reported mindfulness meditation habit strength, and
three mental health outcomes: anxiety, stress, and depression.
Results COVID-19-related worry was associated with increased mindfulness meditation app use and higher rates of anxiety,
stress, and depression (p < 0.001). Increases in mindfulness meditation app habit strength were associated with greater mind-
fulness meditation app use (p < 0.001). Increases in mindfulness meditation app habit strength were linked to more app use
and, when other variables were taken into account, lower rates of anxiety, stress, and depression (p < 0.01).
Conclusions These ndings underline the potential of regular use of mindfulness meditation apps in maintaining mental
health during ongoing stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should investigate the causal relationship
between mindfulness meditation app habits and mental health, as well as identify strategies to promote strong mindfulness
meditation app habits that may protect mental health when exposed to prolonged and pervasive stressors.
Preregistration This study is not preregistered.
Keywords Mindfulness meditation · Mobile app · Habit strength · COVID-19 · Mental health
Accepted: 4 September 2023 / Published online: 15 September 2023
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023
Meditation App Habits and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of
Meditation App Users During the COVID-19 Pandemic
SaraCloonan1· RylanFowers1· JenniferHuberty1· ChadStecher1
1 3
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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