JMIR Mental Health
June 12, 2026
Polina Beloborodova, Lillian M. Smith, Kevin M. Riordan et al.
Background: Digital meditation-based interventions (MBIs) reach vast global audiences with millions of active users, yet concerns persist about the frequency and nature of adverse experiences (ie, AExs) occurring during meditation training. Some researchers have argued that AExs are substantially underdetected and reflect iatrogenic harm caused by meditation (ie, adverse effects [AEfs]). Others...
Mindfulness
May 21, 2026
Stephanie H Cook, Erica P. Wood, Mariana Rodrigues et al.
Young sexual and gender minorities (YSGM) experience disproportionate stress and poor mental health compared to young cisgender heterosexual individuals which may, in part, be due to exposure to discrimination. An app-based mindfulness meditation program may be an easily accessible intervention through which to improve mental health and well-being among this population. We utilized the...
Mindfulness
March 9, 2026
Simon B. Goldberg, Zishan Jiwani, Cortland J. Dahl et al.
Objectives: Digital technology opens the possibility of providing meditation instruction in the midst of daily activities. This study explores the use of "active" meditation practices which involve meditating while completing daily activities (e.g., folding laundry). Method: We use data from public users of the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) meditation app (N = 26,532, Sample 1) and from a...
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
October 27, 2025
Matthew Fritts, Emma Lash, Genevieve R Lyons et al.
Objective: This prospective, observational study examined the overall effectiveness of three online training programs to attenuate mental health concerns, enhance global well-being, and promote workplace wellness. Methods: Employees and spouses at a large R1 university self-selected one or more of three interventions. Two included contemplative training and the comparison program did not,...
The Gerontologist
May 10, 2025
Evan Plys, Morgan Seward, Elizabeth M Allen et al.
3 citations
We tested feasibility and preliminary benefits of a free mobile app-delivered mindfulness-based intervention for stress among dementia caregivers (i.e., Healthy Minds Program for Caregivers [HMP-C]). Single-blind Stage 1b pilot randomized controlled trial compared 12 weeks of HMP-C (n = 47) with a dose-matched education podcast control (n = 48; Wellness App [WA]). T-tests examined between-group...
JMIR Research Protocols
October 13, 2023
Emily C Woodworth, Ellie A Briskin, Evan Plys et al.
Background: Informal caregivers (ie, individuals who provide assistance to a known person with health or functional needs, often unpaid) experience high levels of stress. Caregiver stress is associated with negative outcomes for both caregivers and care recipients. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise for improving stress, emotional distress, and sleep disturbance in caregivers...
npj Mental Health Research
April 18, 2023
Zishan Jiwani, Raquel G Tatar, Cortland J. Dahl et al.
Digital interventions have the potential to alleviate mental health disparities for marginalized and minoritized communities. The current study examined whether disparities in access and utilization of meditation in the United States (US) were reduced for a freely available meditation app. We analyzed demographic and usage data from US-based users of the Healthy Minds Program (HMP; N = 66,482)...
JMIR Research Protocols
January 14, 2022
Stephanie H Cook, Erica P. Wood, Nicholas Mirin et al.
Young sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) of color may face unique experiences of discrimination based on their intersectional positions (eg, discrimination based on both racial or ethnic identity and sexual identity). Emerging evidence suggests that mindfulness practices may reduce stress from discrimination and improve overall well-being among young SGM. Moreover, the omnipresence of...
November 14, 2021
Thaddeus W W Pace, Katharine H. Zeiders, Stephanie H Cook et al.
BACKGROUND Firefighters are often exposed to occupational stressors that can result in psychological distress. These occupational stressors have only intensified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely persist in the post-pandemic world. OBJECTIVE To address occupational stressors confronting firefighters and to improve their well-being, we pilot tested a novel, cost-effective...
JMIR Formative Research
November 14, 2021
Thaddeus W W Pace, Katharine H. Zeiders, S. Cook et al.
Background Firefighters are often exposed to occupational stressors that can result in psychological distress (ie, anxiety and depression) and burnout. These occupational stressors have only intensified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely persist in the postpandemic world. Objective To address occupational stressors confronting firefighters, we pilot tested a novel,...