Acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness apps for college student mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Preventing anxiety and depression among college students is a pressing public health need. Recent meta-analyses have examined mobile mindfulness interventions in adult populations; however, college students are in a unique developmental stage and institutional setting. We conducted a systematic lite...
Gespeichert in:
| Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of affective disorders 2024-12, Vol.367, p.951-971 |
|---|---|
| Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , , |
| Format: | Artikel |
| Sprache: | eng |
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
| Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
| container_end_page | 971 |
|---|---|
| container_issue | |
| container_start_page | 951 |
| container_title | Journal of affective disorders |
| container_volume | 367 |
| creator | LaMontagne, Liva G. Doty, Jennifer L. Diehl, David C. Nesbit, Tyler S. Gage, Nicholas A. Kumbkarni, Nayha Leon, Sophia P. |
| description | Preventing anxiety and depression among college students is a pressing public health need. Recent meta-analyses have examined mobile mindfulness interventions in adult populations; however, college students are in a unique developmental stage and institutional setting.
We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies in English language on the acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness training apps on mental health among non-clinical samples of college students. Out of 167 reviewed studies, 47 were included in the narrative review. Additionally, we summarized effects from 19 stress, 12 anxiety, 13 depression, and 8 emotional well-being trials (total N = 2974) using robust variance estimation meta-regression and evaluated certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach.
Apps were acceptable, with usage levels varying. They reduced stress by 0.435 standard deviation units, 95 % CI (−0.615,-0.255), and increased emotional well-being by 0.431 (0.162,0.7) approaching medium effect sizes. The apps had small effects on depression (B = −0.219 (−0.374, −0.065)) and anxiety (B = −0.218 (−0.42, −0.016)). Certainty of evidence was moderate for stress, depression, and well-being; and low-to-moderate for anxiety. Distressed participants had larger improvements in all outcomes except depression.
Small sample sizes in the original studies and small numbers of studies limit the precision of our effect estimates. The small number of studies with objective usage data impedes our ability to characterize the optimal dose.
With moderate certainty of evidence, mindfulness training apps may improve student mental health with similar or larger effect sizes than in the general adult population. However, sustained usage may be a challenge, and more research is needed on the optimal implementation strategy, dose, and equity.
•Mindfulness training mobile apps show high acceptability and variable usage among college students•Moderate certainty evidence for small-to-medium effects on stress, emotional well-being, & for small effect on depression•Low-to-moderate certainty of evidence for small effect on anxiety |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.014 |
| format | Article |
| fullrecord | <record><control><sourceid>proquest_cross</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_3103446061</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><els_id>S0165032724014939</els_id><sourcerecordid>3103446061</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c235t-2c0dcd247e22904ff1108e125349912c5b9d6ea54f32273531e40d306164c4193</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNp9kM1u1DAURi0EokPhAdggL1k04fonSQOr0Yg_qRISKmvLY1-3HjnJkOuA8gS8Nh6msGTjuznfkXwYeymgFiDaN4f6YH0tQeoa-hqEfsQ2oulUJRvRPWabwjQVKNldsGdEBwBo-w6esgvVyxaa7nrDfm2dw2O2-5hiXq_4QvYOr7gdPccQorNu5VPgQxx9WNKIRNwej8TDNHM3pYR3yCkvHsfMh_LYxO_Rpnz_lm85rZRxsDk6PuOPiD__eAfMtrKjTStFOsm_7m7pOXsSbCJ88XAv2bcP7293n6qbLx8_77Y3lZOqyZV04J2XukMpe9AhCAHXKGSjdN8L6Zp971u0jQ5Kyk41SqAGr6AVrXZa9OqSvT57j_P0fUHKZojkMCU74rSQUQKU1m0ZFFScUTdPRDMGc5zjYOfVCDCn_uZgSn9z6m-gN6V_2bx60C_7Af2_xd_gBXh3BrB8siSZDbmIo0MfZ3TZ-Cn-R_8b1AKVqA</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>3103446061</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness apps for college student mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs</title><source>MEDLINE</source><source>ScienceDirect Journals (5 years ago - present)</source><creator>LaMontagne, Liva G. ; Doty, Jennifer L. ; Diehl, David C. ; Nesbit, Tyler S. ; Gage, Nicholas A. ; Kumbkarni, Nayha ; Leon, Sophia P.</creator><creatorcontrib>LaMontagne, Liva G. ; Doty, Jennifer L. ; Diehl, David C. ; Nesbit, Tyler S. ; Gage, Nicholas A. ; Kumbkarni, Nayha ; Leon, Sophia P.</creatorcontrib><description>Preventing anxiety and depression among college students is a pressing public health need. Recent meta-analyses have examined mobile mindfulness interventions in adult populations; however, college students are in a unique developmental stage and institutional setting.
We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies in English language on the acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness training apps on mental health among non-clinical samples of college students. Out of 167 reviewed studies, 47 were included in the narrative review. Additionally, we summarized effects from 19 stress, 12 anxiety, 13 depression, and 8 emotional well-being trials (total N = 2974) using robust variance estimation meta-regression and evaluated certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach.
Apps were acceptable, with usage levels varying. They reduced stress by 0.435 standard deviation units, 95 % CI (−0.615,-0.255), and increased emotional well-being by 0.431 (0.162,0.7) approaching medium effect sizes. The apps had small effects on depression (B = −0.219 (−0.374, −0.065)) and anxiety (B = −0.218 (−0.42, −0.016)). Certainty of evidence was moderate for stress, depression, and well-being; and low-to-moderate for anxiety. Distressed participants had larger improvements in all outcomes except depression.
Small sample sizes in the original studies and small numbers of studies limit the precision of our effect estimates. The small number of studies with objective usage data impedes our ability to characterize the optimal dose.
With moderate certainty of evidence, mindfulness training apps may improve student mental health with similar or larger effect sizes than in the general adult population. However, sustained usage may be a challenge, and more research is needed on the optimal implementation strategy, dose, and equity.
•Mindfulness training mobile apps show high acceptability and variable usage among college students•Moderate certainty evidence for small-to-medium effects on stress, emotional well-being, & for small effect on depression•Low-to-moderate certainty of evidence for small effect on anxiety</description><identifier>ISSN: 0165-0327</identifier><identifier>ISSN: 1573-2517</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1573-2517</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.014</identifier><identifier>PMID: 39260578</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Netherlands: Elsevier B.V</publisher><subject>Adult ; Anxiety ; Anxiety - prevention & control ; Anxiety - therapy ; Depression ; Depression - prevention & control ; Depression - therapy ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Mindfulness ; Mindfulness - methods ; Mobile application ; Mobile Applications ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stress, Psychological - prevention & control ; Stress, Psychological - therapy ; Students ; Students - psychology ; Universities ; Young Adult</subject><ispartof>Journal of affective disorders, 2024-12, Vol.367, p.951-971</ispartof><rights>2024 Elsevier B.V.</rights><rights>Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c235t-2c0dcd247e22904ff1108e125349912c5b9d6ea54f32273531e40d306164c4193</cites></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.014$$EHTML$$P50$$Gelsevier$$H</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>314,780,784,3550,27924,27925,45995</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39260578$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>LaMontagne, Liva G.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Doty, Jennifer L.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Diehl, David C.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Nesbit, Tyler S.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Gage, Nicholas A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kumbkarni, Nayha</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Leon, Sophia P.</creatorcontrib><title>Acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness apps for college student mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs</title><title>Journal of affective disorders</title><addtitle>J Affect Disord</addtitle><description>Preventing anxiety and depression among college students is a pressing public health need. Recent meta-analyses have examined mobile mindfulness interventions in adult populations; however, college students are in a unique developmental stage and institutional setting.
We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies in English language on the acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness training apps on mental health among non-clinical samples of college students. Out of 167 reviewed studies, 47 were included in the narrative review. Additionally, we summarized effects from 19 stress, 12 anxiety, 13 depression, and 8 emotional well-being trials (total N = 2974) using robust variance estimation meta-regression and evaluated certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach.
Apps were acceptable, with usage levels varying. They reduced stress by 0.435 standard deviation units, 95 % CI (−0.615,-0.255), and increased emotional well-being by 0.431 (0.162,0.7) approaching medium effect sizes. The apps had small effects on depression (B = −0.219 (−0.374, −0.065)) and anxiety (B = −0.218 (−0.42, −0.016)). Certainty of evidence was moderate for stress, depression, and well-being; and low-to-moderate for anxiety. Distressed participants had larger improvements in all outcomes except depression.
Small sample sizes in the original studies and small numbers of studies limit the precision of our effect estimates. The small number of studies with objective usage data impedes our ability to characterize the optimal dose.
With moderate certainty of evidence, mindfulness training apps may improve student mental health with similar or larger effect sizes than in the general adult population. However, sustained usage may be a challenge, and more research is needed on the optimal implementation strategy, dose, and equity.
•Mindfulness training mobile apps show high acceptability and variable usage among college students•Moderate certainty evidence for small-to-medium effects on stress, emotional well-being, & for small effect on depression•Low-to-moderate certainty of evidence for small effect on anxiety</description><subject>Adult</subject><subject>Anxiety</subject><subject>Anxiety - prevention & control</subject><subject>Anxiety - therapy</subject><subject>Depression</subject><subject>Depression - prevention & control</subject><subject>Depression - therapy</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Mental Health</subject><subject>Mindfulness</subject><subject>Mindfulness - methods</subject><subject>Mobile application</subject><subject>Mobile Applications</subject><subject>Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology</subject><subject>Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic</subject><subject>Stress, Psychological - prevention & control</subject><subject>Stress, Psychological - therapy</subject><subject>Students</subject><subject>Students - psychology</subject><subject>Universities</subject><subject>Young Adult</subject><issn>0165-0327</issn><issn>1573-2517</issn><issn>1573-2517</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2024</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>EIF</sourceid><recordid>eNp9kM1u1DAURi0EokPhAdggL1k04fonSQOr0Yg_qRISKmvLY1-3HjnJkOuA8gS8Nh6msGTjuznfkXwYeymgFiDaN4f6YH0tQeoa-hqEfsQ2oulUJRvRPWabwjQVKNldsGdEBwBo-w6esgvVyxaa7nrDfm2dw2O2-5hiXq_4QvYOr7gdPccQorNu5VPgQxx9WNKIRNwej8TDNHM3pYR3yCkvHsfMh_LYxO_Rpnz_lm85rZRxsDk6PuOPiD__eAfMtrKjTStFOsm_7m7pOXsSbCJ88XAv2bcP7293n6qbLx8_77Y3lZOqyZV04J2XukMpe9AhCAHXKGSjdN8L6Zp971u0jQ5Kyk41SqAGr6AVrXZa9OqSvT57j_P0fUHKZojkMCU74rSQUQKU1m0ZFFScUTdPRDMGc5zjYOfVCDCn_uZgSn9z6m-gN6V_2bx60C_7Af2_xd_gBXh3BrB8siSZDbmIo0MfZ3TZ-Cn-R_8b1AKVqA</recordid><startdate>20241215</startdate><enddate>20241215</enddate><creator>LaMontagne, Liva G.</creator><creator>Doty, Jennifer L.</creator><creator>Diehl, David C.</creator><creator>Nesbit, Tyler S.</creator><creator>Gage, Nicholas A.</creator><creator>Kumbkarni, Nayha</creator><creator>Leon, Sophia P.</creator><general>Elsevier B.V</general><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7X8</scope></search><sort><creationdate>20241215</creationdate><title>Acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness apps for college student mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs</title><author>LaMontagne, Liva G. ; Doty, Jennifer L. ; Diehl, David C. ; Nesbit, Tyler S. ; Gage, Nicholas A. ; Kumbkarni, Nayha ; Leon, Sophia P.</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c235t-2c0dcd247e22904ff1108e125349912c5b9d6ea54f32273531e40d306164c4193</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2024</creationdate><topic>Adult</topic><topic>Anxiety</topic><topic>Anxiety - prevention & control</topic><topic>Anxiety - therapy</topic><topic>Depression</topic><topic>Depression - prevention & control</topic><topic>Depression - therapy</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Mental Health</topic><topic>Mindfulness</topic><topic>Mindfulness - methods</topic><topic>Mobile application</topic><topic>Mobile Applications</topic><topic>Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology</topic><topic>Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic</topic><topic>Stress, Psychological - prevention & control</topic><topic>Stress, Psychological - therapy</topic><topic>Students</topic><topic>Students - psychology</topic><topic>Universities</topic><topic>Young Adult</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>LaMontagne, Liva G.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Doty, Jennifer L.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Diehl, David C.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Nesbit, Tyler S.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Gage, Nicholas A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kumbkarni, Nayha</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Leon, Sophia P.</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><jtitle>Journal of affective disorders</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>LaMontagne, Liva G.</au><au>Doty, Jennifer L.</au><au>Diehl, David C.</au><au>Nesbit, Tyler S.</au><au>Gage, Nicholas A.</au><au>Kumbkarni, Nayha</au><au>Leon, Sophia P.</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness apps for college student mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs</atitle><jtitle>Journal of affective disorders</jtitle><addtitle>J Affect Disord</addtitle><date>2024-12-15</date><risdate>2024</risdate><volume>367</volume><spage>951</spage><epage>971</epage><pages>951-971</pages><issn>0165-0327</issn><issn>1573-2517</issn><eissn>1573-2517</eissn><abstract>Preventing anxiety and depression among college students is a pressing public health need. Recent meta-analyses have examined mobile mindfulness interventions in adult populations; however, college students are in a unique developmental stage and institutional setting.
We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies in English language on the acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness training apps on mental health among non-clinical samples of college students. Out of 167 reviewed studies, 47 were included in the narrative review. Additionally, we summarized effects from 19 stress, 12 anxiety, 13 depression, and 8 emotional well-being trials (total N = 2974) using robust variance estimation meta-regression and evaluated certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach.
Apps were acceptable, with usage levels varying. They reduced stress by 0.435 standard deviation units, 95 % CI (−0.615,-0.255), and increased emotional well-being by 0.431 (0.162,0.7) approaching medium effect sizes. The apps had small effects on depression (B = −0.219 (−0.374, −0.065)) and anxiety (B = −0.218 (−0.42, −0.016)). Certainty of evidence was moderate for stress, depression, and well-being; and low-to-moderate for anxiety. Distressed participants had larger improvements in all outcomes except depression.
Small sample sizes in the original studies and small numbers of studies limit the precision of our effect estimates. The small number of studies with objective usage data impedes our ability to characterize the optimal dose.
With moderate certainty of evidence, mindfulness training apps may improve student mental health with similar or larger effect sizes than in the general adult population. However, sustained usage may be a challenge, and more research is needed on the optimal implementation strategy, dose, and equity.
•Mindfulness training mobile apps show high acceptability and variable usage among college students•Moderate certainty evidence for small-to-medium effects on stress, emotional well-being, & for small effect on depression•Low-to-moderate certainty of evidence for small effect on anxiety</abstract><cop>Netherlands</cop><pub>Elsevier B.V</pub><pmid>39260578</pmid><doi>10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.014</doi><tpages>21</tpages></addata></record> |
| fulltext | fulltext |
| identifier | ISSN: 0165-0327 |
| ispartof | Journal of affective disorders, 2024-12, Vol.367, p.951-971 |
| issn | 0165-0327 1573-2517 1573-2517 |
| language | eng |
| recordid | cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_3103446061 |
| source | MEDLINE; ScienceDirect Journals (5 years ago - present) |
| subjects | Adult Anxiety Anxiety - prevention & control Anxiety - therapy Depression Depression - prevention & control Depression - therapy Humans Mental Health Mindfulness Mindfulness - methods Mobile application Mobile Applications Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Stress, Psychological - prevention & control Stress, Psychological - therapy Students Students - psychology Universities Young Adult |
| title | Acceptability, usage, and efficacy of mindfulness apps for college student mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs |
| url | https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-06T04%3A30%3A25IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_cross&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Acceptability,%20usage,%20and%20efficacy%20of%20mindfulness%20apps%20for%20college%20student%20mental%20health:%20A%20systematic%20review%20and%20meta-analysis%20of%20RCTs&rft.jtitle=Journal%20of%20affective%20disorders&rft.au=LaMontagne,%20Liva%20G.&rft.date=2024-12-15&rft.volume=367&rft.spage=951&rft.epage=971&rft.pages=951-971&rft.issn=0165-0327&rft.eissn=1573-2517&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.014&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_cross%3E3103446061%3C/proquest_cross%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=3103446061&rft_id=info:pmid/39260578&rft_els_id=S0165032724014939&rfr_iscdi=true |