Background: Mobile health (mHealth) technologies, especially mindfulness-based applications, have emerged as promising interventions to address barriers to traditional therapy such as accessibility, cost, and stigma. Objective: To systematically map and evaluate existing mindfulness-based mobile applications and their impact on mental health outcomes. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL was conducted for studies published between 2008 and 2024. Inclusion criteria included studies evaluating Mindfulness Mobile Apps targeting mental health, published in English, and employing various methodologies. Data extraction encompassed app features, intervention outcomes, and methodological quality, appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Results: In this study 10 out of 215 records met the inclusion criteria. Interventions ranged from mindfulness meditation apps like Headspace and Calm to cognitive-behavioural therapy-integrated tools. Outcomes assessed included stress reduction, enhanced mindfulness, improved well-being, and reduced depressive symptoms. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) consistently reported significant improvements in stress and mindfulness, while quasi-experimental studies showed variability in effect sizes due to methodological limitations. Most apps demonstrated strong usability and efficacy in reducing psychological distress, with intervention durations ranging from one week to three months. Conclusion: Mindfulness-based mobile applications offer scalable, accessible solutions to improve mental health. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and diverse populations to maximise the impact of these digital interventions.
Novianty et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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