The meditation app revolution.
J. David Creswell, Simon B. Goldberg
American Psychologist August 7, 2025 DOI: 10.1037/amp0001576 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Psycinfo Psychological intervention Worry Psychotherapist Applied psychology Medline |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key findings | App-based meditation interventions produce modest but consistent reductions in depression and anxiety. |
Abstract
Smartphone-based meditation training has jumped onto the world stage, shifting how millions of people learn and practice meditation. This review examines the rapid proliferation of meditation apps and synthesizes current scientific findings on their usage patterns, efficacy, mechanisms of action, and safety. Though research lags well behind public adoption, recent randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses reveal that app-based meditation interventions produce modest but consistent reductions in depression and anxiety. Initial mechanistic studies further suggest that improvements in worry, repetitive negative thinking, and self-reported mindfulness skills may underpin these effects, alongside early findings on blood pressure reduction and pro-inflammatory gene expression. This review describes some of the similarities and differences between meditation apps and traditional, in-person mindfulness programs. Meditation apps often differ in the relative absence of interpersonal support, briefer practice sessions, lower sustained engagement rates, and greater opportunities for personalization and large-scale data capture. We discuss opportunities based on these issues, including hybrid models that combine app-based content with human support, just-in-time interventions, and advanced trial designs that harness app analytics. With thoughtful development and rigorous evaluation, meditation apps have potential to expand the reach of evidence-based meditation training, offering a unique platform for advancing translational research on meditative practices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Beyond serenity: Adverse effects of meditation and mindfulness in clinical practice. Current Opinion in Psychology February 1, 2026
- A Critical Review and 10-Year Update on Prospects for a Clinical Science of Mindfulness-Based Intervention Mindfulness July 7, 2026
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Apps in Mitigating Psychological Distress Among Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Mindfulness June 19, 2026
- Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials JMIR Mental Health June 12, 2026
- Meditation and neurofeedback: A systematic scoping review, synthesis, and future directions Imaging Neuroscience 2026
and 6 more in the library
Cites 32
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
and 27 more in the library