A mindfulness meditation mobile app improves depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance: Analysis from a randomized controlled trial
Jennifer Huberty, Megan E. Puzia, Jeni Green, Robert D. Vlisides-Henry, Linda Larkey, Michael R. Irwin, Ana-Maria Vranceanu
General Hospital Psychiatry September 11, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.09.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 239 |
| Population | Adults with elevated insomnia symptoms and limited or no previous meditation experience |
| Intervention | meditation app |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Citations | 76 |
| Key findings | A meditation app reduced depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, with effects mediated by reduced pre-sleep arousal. |
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to 1) determine the effects of a meditation app on depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, and 2) explore the potential mediating effects of fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep arousal on the relationship between use of the meditation app and changes in depression and anxiety.
Methods: Participants were 239 adults with elevated insomnia symptoms (i.e., scores ≥ 10 on the Insomnia Severity Index) and limited or no previous experience with meditation. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep arousal were assessed at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. Repeated-measures ANCOVAs assessed intervention effects on depression and anxiety. Mediation models were estimated using the PROCESS macro.
Results: Participants in the meditation group had more improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms during the intervention period than did those in the control group. Changes in somatic and cognitive pre-sleep arousal at mid-intervention fully mediated effects on depression and partially mediated effects on anxiety. There were no significant indirect effects of fatigue and daytime-sleepiness on changes in mental health.
Conclusions: A meditation app may improve depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, with effects being driven by improvements in pre-sleep arousal. Future studies should consider targeting pre-sleep arousal to improve mental health in this population.