Mindfulness-based mobile app reduces anxiety and increases self-compassion in healthcare students: A randomised controlled trial
Álvaro Orosa-Duarte, R. Mediavilla, Ainoa Muñoz-Sanjosé, Á. Palao, J. Garde, Vera López-Herrero, M. Bravo-Ortiz, C. Bayon, B. Rodríguez-Vega
Medical Teacher February 28, 2021 DOI: 10.1080/0142159x.2021.1887835 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA mobile mindfulness app reduced trait anxiety in healthcare students as effectively as an in-person mindfulness program. In a randomized trial with 84 participants analyzed, the app group showed a large reduction in anxiety compared to controls, and a medium but statistically nonsignificant difference compared to the in-person group. Both interventions increased self-compassion and mindfulness relative to controls. Empathy did not change in any group. The authors conclude that a mobile app can be as effective as an in-person program for reducing anxiety and boosting self-compassion and mindfulness in this population.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 84 |
| Population | Healthcare students |
| Interventions | mindfulness-based mobile application in-person mindfulness-based training program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Key finding | A mobile mindfulness app reduced trait anxiety with a large effect size compared to controls and was not significantly different from an in-person mindfulness program; both interventions increased self-compassion and mindfulness. |
Abstract
Abstract Objective To compare the effect of a mindfulness-based mobile application versus an in-person mindfulness-based training program in terms of reducing anxiety and increasing empathy, self-compassion, and mindfulness in a population of healthcare students. Methods The authors conducted a single-blind, randomised controlled trial with three parallel groups. Participants were allocated to the mobile app, the in-person mindfulness-based program (IMBP), or a control group. Assessments at baseline and postintervention (8 weeks) included measures of anxiety, empathy, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Results Of 168 students randomised, 84 were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis (app: n = 31; IMBP: n = 23; control: n = 30). The mobile app group showed a large effect size for reductions in trait anxiety compared with controls (g = 0.85, p = 0.003), and a medium, nonsignificant effect compared with the IMBP group (g = 0.52, p = 0.152). Participants from both interventions experienced a significant increase in self-compassion and mindfulness compared with controls. Levels of empathy remained unchanged for the 3 arms. Conclusions A mobile app can be as effective as an IMBP in reducing anxiety and increasing self-compassion and mindfulness among healthcare students.