What predicts meditation app engagement? an evaluation of user characteristics and motivation.
Mariah Sullivan, Sara Cloonan, Jennifer Huberty, Chad Stecher
Psychology and Health April 7, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2026.2648854 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 304 |
| Population | New meditation app subscribers |
| Intervention | meditation app usage |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness meditation Behaviour maintenance Health behaviours Intrinsic motivation Mobile app engagement |
| Key findings | Strong intrinsic motivation was associated with greater odds of completing any meditation session, more days with meditation sessions, and greater average minutes per day of meditation. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation apps are associated with significant health benefits, yet many new app subscribers have low engagement and are unlikely to attain these benefits.This study examined the user characteristics that predict meditation app usage during the first eight weeks after subscribing. New meditation app subscribers (N = 304) completed a baseline survey which measured demographics, personality traits, intrinsic motivation for meditation, and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and objective app usage data were collected over eight weeks. Negative binomial, logistic, and ordinary least squares linear regression models assessed associations between user characteristics and five different outcomes 1) days with any session, 2) average min/day of any session, 3) completing any meditation session, 4) days with any meditation sessions, and 5) average min/day of meditation. Strong intrinsic motivation was associated with greater odds of completing any meditation session (OR = 3.63, p < .01), more days with meditation sessions (IRR = 1.75, p < .01), and greater average min/day of meditation (B = 0.32, p < .01). The effort and pressure subdomains of intrinsic motivation were also significant predictors of app usage. Men had more meditation days (IRR = 2.13, p < .01) than women, and a mental health diagnosis was associated with longer daily meditation durations (B = 0.41, p = .038). Intrinsic motivation is an important mechanism for maintaining an app-based meditation practice, along with gender and chronic health diagnoses. App developers and researchers should consider tailoring content or providing additional support to users based on these characteristics.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 24
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness on-the-go: Effects of a mindfulness meditation app on work stress and well-being. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology May 3, 2018
- Testing the Efficacy of a Multicomponent, Self-Guided, Smartphone-Based Meditation App: Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Mental Health November 27, 2020
- Biological mechanism study of meditation and its application in mental disorders General Psychiatry July 13, 2020
- Mindfulness meditation experiences of novice practitioners in an online intervention: Trajectories, predictors, and challenges. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being February 1, 2022
and 19 more in the library