New Avenues for Promoting Mindfulness in Adolescence using mHealth

Abstract

There is a large evidence base supporting the efficacy of mindfulness interventions in adulthood, and growing support for the efficacy of these interventions in adolescence. Historically mindfulness interventions have been delivered in person and in groups, with recommendations for home practice being a critical part of the intervention. However, compliance with these practice recommendations in adolescence is very poor. Past studies indicate that using mobile technology to promote skill transfer to real life can be an effective strategy, particularly when used as a supplement to an in-person intervention strategy. To date, however, mobile technology has largely been used to create stand-alone mindfulness interventions. The goals of the current paper are to discuss the potential opportunities and challenges with a mobile-technology-enhanced mindfulness intervention, and to present the rationale that such an approach is not only theoretical and empirically sound but also a critical next step to increase the efficacy and developmental appropriateness of mindfulness interventions for adolescents. This discussion is grounded in a specific example of a mindfulness intervention supplemented by momentary interventions we are developing.

Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention for Youth in a Time of Telehealth

“…Meta-analyses of the effectiveness of online approaches are still emerging, yet the few that have been conducted have evidenced overall positive results (Ma et al 2018 ). In addition to online programs, mobile phone applications (e.g., Mindfulness Daily, The Mindfulness App, Headspace, Calm) have been shown to be effective supplements to interventions (Lucas-Thompson et al 2019 ). Consistent with this, mindfulness combined with the delivery of structured or unstructured intervention through text messages (ecological momentary intervention (EMI); ecological momentary assessment (EMA)), followed with frequent evaluation, encourages and empowers youth to use acquired mindfulness tools in alternate settings.…”

“…A study by Lindsay et al ( 2018 ) was the first to show that brief smartphone-based mindfulness training can impact objective biological stress outcomes, including blood pressure (treatment vs. control: χ 2 (1) = 10.16, p = 0.001, d = 0.72) and cortisol levels (treatment vs. control: F (1,140) = 4.79, p = 0.030, d = 0.47). Lucas-Thompson et al ( 2019 ) found improvement in well-being of youth at risk for NSSI and suicidal ideation using mindfulness and EMIs. Though research in this area is emerging, the use of these kinds of apps appears to be promising for use with the adolescent population (Nock et al 2009 ).…”

Learning to BREATHE “Plus”: A Multi-Modal Adaptive Supplement to an Evidence-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Adolescents

“…These studies indicate that MBIs delivered online, through self-help or individually guided learning, or through a smartphone application, can increase mindfulness and lower psychological symptoms (13,14,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38). Therefore, despite potential challenges of incorporating technology into an MBI [for a review, see (15)], we argue that an important next step in the implementation of MBIs is to incorporate an EMI, particularly when working to increase adolescent mindfulness. In the current paper, we discuss the development and content of a multi-method, adaptive supplement to an evidence-based MBI for adolescents.…”

Moving 2 Mindful(M2M) study protocol: testing a mindfulness group plus ecological momentary intervention to decrease stress and anxiety in adolescents from high-conflict homes with a mixed-method longitudinal design

“…Despite the power of these EMI supplements, as far as we are aware, no empirically supported EMIs are available for mindfulness-based group interventions. As such, it is important to develop an evidence-based and empirically supported EMI supplement to mindfulness-based group interventions to maximise potential to support long-term positive change for adolescents 35…”