| Mindfulness Apps for College Students Can Improve Mental Health
Stress, anxiety and depression among college students are important mental health issues. These investigators conducted a literature review and metanalysis of studies that addressed the acceptability and efficacy of mindfulness training apps on mental health outcomes among college students. A total of 47 studies were included in a qualitative review and the quantitative effects on stress from 19, anxiety from 12, depression from 13, and emotional well-being from 8 trials (total N = 2974) were analyzed.
The apps were felt to be acceptable with varying usage levels. Stress was reduced by 0.435 standard deviation units, 95 % CI (−0.615,-0.255), and emotional well-being increased by 0.431 (0.162,0.7) which are medium effect sizes. The apps reduced depression by 0.219 (−0.374, −0.065) units and anxiety by 0.218 (−0.42, −0.016) which are small effect sizes. Participants who were more distressed had larger improvements on all outcomes except depression.
The authors concluded that, with moderate certainty of evidence, mindfulness training apps may improve student mental health with similar or larger effect sizes than in the general adult population. |
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