User Experiences and Effects of Expert-Led YouTube Mind-Body Interventions on Insomniacs: A Survey Study.
Jung-Won Shin, Jaesung Yoo, Hyeyun Kim
Journal of Korean medical science June 2, 2025 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e91 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 411 |
| Population | Users of expert-led YouTube-delivered mind-body interventions, mostly females in their 20s |
| Interventions | mindfulness breathwork mental imagery |
| Topics | Breathwork Meditation |
| Keywords | Mind-body therapy Sleep improvement Sleep support Sleep quality Insomnia relief Insomnia treatment Better sleep Sleep solutions Mind-body interventions Holistic healing Stress reduction Relaxation techniques Youtube health Online therapy Digital health Accessible health Virtual support Online wellness Video therapy |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | YouTube-delivered mind-body interventions led to significant improvements in multiple sleep measures, and 77% of users reported overall convenience and satisfaction. |
Abstract
Behavioral and psychological therapies have been shown to be beneficial in insomnia treatment. YouTube, a video-based social media platform, has become the most widely used platform and is easily accessible to everyone. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of expert-led YouTube-delivered mind-body interventions (MBIs), including mindfulness, breathwork, and mental imagery, on sleep disturbance and user satisfaction. We retrospectively analyzed data from 411 users of expert-led YouTube-delivered MBIs who completed a questionnaire from November 20 to 27, 2021. The content of the videos had multicomponent approaches, including education on sleep hygiene and MBIs. Participants were mostly females (86.6%) and individuals in their 20s (59.1%). Most of the participants complained of difficulty falling asleep (91%), and 55.2% reported experiencing non-restorative sleep. After YouTube-delivered MBIs, significant improvements in sleep-onset latency, sleep maintenance, sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, and difficulty waking up in the morning (P < 0.001) were observed. Participants who had improved sleep quality complained of more severe insomnia with psychological stress. The 77% of users reported overall convenience and satisfaction with the platform. This survey showed the effectiveness of YouTube-delivered MBIs developed by experts. The accessibility advantage of YouTube as a social media platform was effectively used, highlighting the need for future research to explore its practical applications in clinical settings.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on breathwork, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- A mindfulness meditation mobile app improves depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance: Analysis from a randomized controlled trial General Hospital Psychiatry September 11, 2021
- Mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia alleviates insomnia, depression, and cognitive arousal in treatment-resistant insomnia: A single-arm telemedicine trial Frontiers in Sleep March 8, 2023
- Mindfulness as an Adjunct or Alternative to CBT-I. Sleep Medicine Clinics March 2023
- Effects of a Social Media-Based Mind-Body Intervention Embedded With Acupressure and Mindfulness for Stress Reduction Among Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Formative Research February 20, 2023
- The Quest for Mindful Sleep: A Critical Synthesis of the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Insomnia. Current Sleep Medicine Reports September 2016