Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Problematic Technology Use
Justin Thomas, Nada Al Juraib, Shahroo Izadi
Mental Health - Innovations in Therapy and Treatment April 16, 2025 DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1010097 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based digital balance (MBDB) mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that mindfulness-based interventions have proven helpful for problematic technology use and propose mindfulness-based digital balance (MBDB) as a novel approach, examining its potential therapeutic mechanisms and how healthier technology use might be sustained after intervention. |
Abstract
Mounting societal and clinical concerns about the mental health impacts of personal digital devices/services (social media, smartphones, gaming platforms, etc.) have underscored a need for evidence-based approaches to problematic technology use. Interventions and prevention strategies rooted in mindfulness-based techniques have proven helpful, supporting the development and maintenance of healthier and more adaptive relationships with technology. This chapter explores the literature on mindfulness-based interventions for problematic technology use, providing summative conclusions and identifying areas for further research. The chapter also describes, in detail, mindfulness-based digital balance (MBDB), our novel approach to problematic technology use. We examine the potential therapeutic mechanisms through which MBDB and other mindfulness-based approaches might operate. Finally, we explore the further development of the MBDB approach by considering how adaptive behaviors and healthier technology use might be sustained post-intervention.