Impact of self-guided mindfulness versus self-compassion application on physiological and psychological outcomes in workers: A randomized controlled trial.
Takumu Kurosawa, Koichiro Adachi, Ryu Takizawa
Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being August 2026 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.70201 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 201 |
| Population | Workers who were intervention initiators with session-level data (SCM n=86; MM n=85) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Measures | HR, RMSSD, subjective relaxation, PANAS, Affect Grid |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Low‐intensity interventions Physiological measures Randomized controlled trial Self‐compassion Technology‐based interventions |
| Key findings | Both self-compassion and mindfulness meditation apps produced similar effects on daily physiological and relaxation measures, with no significant group-by-time interactions. Weekly analyses suggested reduced negative affect in the self-compassion group, but overall effects were broadly comparable. |
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial compared 4-week self-guided self-compassion meditation (SCM) and mindfulness meditation (MM) apps among workers in two active arms (n = 201); analyses included intervention initiators with session-level data (SCM n = 86; MM n = 85). Primary daily outcomes were pre-session levels and immediate pre-post changes in HR, heart rate variability by RMSSD, and subjective relaxation; secondary weekly outcomes were PANAS and Affect Grid scores. Repeated-measures ANOVA and linear mixed models examined time and group effects. Daily models showed increased pre-post RMSSD differences and pre-session HR across days in SCM, stronger pre-post HR reduction and increased pre-session HR in MM, and reduced pre-post relaxation differences in both groups, with no group × day interactions. Weekly LMM analyses suggested reduced negative affect in SCM; however, SCM and MM showed broadly comparable effects, with no significant group × time interactions across daily and weekly outcomes. These findings support the value of short-term trajectories and physiological markers and warrant longer follow-up.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- 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
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. General Psychiatry 2024
- The efficacy of mindfulness apps on symptoms of depression and anxiety: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review February 1, 2024
and 7 more in the library