MOBILE THELEPHONE APPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MINDFULNESS COACH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17627/ALKPSZICH.2023.2.35Keywords:
mindfulness, mHealth, intervention, anxiety, stress, Mindfulness CoachAbstract
Background and Aims: Recently, mental health applications have gained popularity; however, only a few studies have investigated their effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of a mindfulness mobile phone application, the Mindfulness Coach.
Methods: In this pilot study, a quasi-experimental design was employed with a passive control group. A total of 64 participants (intervention group: N = 40, control group: N = 24) took part in the intervention. The intervention group used the application for two weeks, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Outcome measures such as mindfulness, perceived stress, and anxiety were assessed at baseline and after the intervention.
Results: The data from the two-week use of the Mindfulness Coach application show positive results. The intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in mindfulness and a significant decrease in stress and anxiety compared to the control group. The participants showed good acceptance of the app; however, it is important to mention that the dropout rate was relatively high (43%).
Discussion: Overall, the study demonstrates the benefits of the Mindfulness Coach app for mental health. The app’s advantages can be applied in various fields (e.g., organizational psychology, school psychology). Considering the high dropout rate, future research should explore strategies to increase intervention engagement and conduct the study with a larger sample size.
