Who Sticks with Meditation? Rates and Predictors of Persistence in a Population-based Sample in the USA

Lam, Sin U; Riordan, Kevin M.; Simonsson, Otto; Davidson, Richard J.; Goldberg, Simon B.

doi:10.1007/s12671-022-02061-9

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…This difference may be due to Prolific participants differing from the general population in ways not captured by Prolific’s representative sampling feature. It may also be attributed to the difference in the time frame of the measures (ie, lifetime vs past-year exposure) or reflect the increase in meditation use over the past decade [ 48 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Situating Meditation Apps Within the Ecosystem of Meditation Practice: Population-Based Survey Study

Lam¹,

Xie²,

Goldberg³

2023

JMIR Ment Health

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Background Meditation apps have the potential to increase access to evidence-based strategies to promote mental health. However, it is currently unclear how meditation apps are situated within the broader landscape of meditation practice and what factors may influence engagement with them. Objective This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and correlates of meditation app use in a population-based sample of individuals with lifetime exposure to meditation in the United States. In addition, we sought to identify the concerns and desired features of meditation apps among those with lifetime exposure to meditation. Methods A total of 953 participants completed an initial screening survey. Of these 953 participants, 434 (45.5%) reported lifetime exposure to meditation and completed a follow-up survey (434/470, 92.3% response rate) assessing their meditation app use, anxiety, depression, loneliness, initial motivation for meditation, and concerns about and desired features of meditation apps. Results Almost half (434/953, 45.5%) of the participants who completed the screening survey reported lifetime exposure to meditation. Among those with lifetime exposure to meditation (ie, meditators), more than half (255/434, 58.8%) had used meditation apps at least once in their lives, and 21.7% (94/434) used meditation apps weekly or daily (ie, active users). Younger age, higher anxiety, and a mental health motivation for practicing meditation were associated with lifetime exposure to meditation apps. Among meditators, those with lifetime exposure to meditation apps were more likely to report concerns about apps, including concerns regarding the cost and effectiveness of apps, time required for use, technical issues with apps, and app user-friendliness. Meditators who used meditation apps weekly or daily (ie, active users) were younger, less likely to be men and non-Latinx White individuals and have lower income, and more likely to have an initial spiritual motivation for meditation. Active users reported more concerns regarding usability and technical problems and were less likely to report disinterest in apps. Headspace and Calm were the most frequently used apps. Tips and reminders for practice, encouragement of “mini” practices, and mental health content were the most desired features. Participants were less interested in social features (eg, the ability to communicate with other users or teachers). Conclusions Meditation apps are commonly used by meditators in the United States, with a higher use among certain demographic groups. Future studies may increase user engagement in meditation apps by addressing concerns (eg, cost and effectiveness) and incorporating desired features (eg, tips and reminders for practice).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Situating Meditation Apps Within the Ecosystem of Meditation Practice: Population-Based Survey Study

Lam¹,

Xie²,

Goldberg³

2023

JMIR Ment Health

Self Cite

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“…With due caution, since our finding is based on very few studies-other studies only reported the minutes of practice but not its frequency, it could be hypothesized that patients with chronic pain may present some difficulties in engaging in home meditation practices that should be acknowledged when implementing programs such as MBSR and MBCT: adaptations to posture may be required (e.g., laying down and standing yoga might be too strenuous for patients with pain), as well as shortening the duration of some practices or sessions-as some studies have already tested for other "third wave" psychotherapies [68]-and offering adapted audio guides and other resources to help patients to focus their attention on the exercise when they practice at home. Reducing perceived barriers is key to the individuals engaging in meditation practices in the long term [69], and previous studies conducted on different samples found that "pragmatic barriers" (e.g., being unable to sit for long periods of time, not having enough time or the optimal environment to meditate, difficulty lying on the floor) are common concerns among people with chronic pain who start practicing [70,71], which suggests that the abovementioned adaptations could be useful for other populations besides chronic pain patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of the Adherence to Home-Practice Meditation Exercises in Patients with Chronic Pain

Barceló‐Soler

Morillo-Sarto

Fernández-Martínez

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Mindfulness-, compassion-, and acceptance-based (i.e., “third wave”) psychotherapies are effective for treating chronic pain conditions. Many of these programs require that patients engage in the systematic home practice of meditation experiences so they can develop meditation skills. This systematic review aimed at evaluating the frequency, duration, and effects of home practice in patients with chronic pain undergoing a “third wave” psychotherapy. A comprehensive database search for quantitative studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Sciences Core Collection; 31 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies tended to indicate a pattern of moderately frequent practice (around four days/week), with very high variability in terms of time invested; most studies observed significant associations between the amount of practice and positive health outcomes. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy were the most common interventions and presented low levels of adherence to home practice (39.6% of the recommended time). Some studies were conducted on samples of adolescents, who practiced very few minutes, and a few tested eHealth interventions with heterogeneous adherence levels. In conclusion, some adaptations may be required so that patients with chronic pain can engage more easily and, thus, effectively in home meditation practices.

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“…Several recent studies have been conducted to gain a better understanding of the influences on individuals’ meditation behavior using a high school sample (Erbe et al 2019, 2020) cadets at a military institution sample (Erbe et al, 2022; Erbe et al, 2023a), a university sample that included faculty (Lederer and Middlestadt 2014), and a representative sample of U.S. adults (Lam et al, 2023). Each study used a generic and not strictly religious/spiritual definition of meditation that included a quiet secluded location, comfortable posture, a focal point for the mind on the breath and/or other points such as a word or phrase.…”

Section: Empirical Research On Raa and Meditationmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Understanding to Embodying: Moving Beyond Teaching for Understanding of the Spiritual Disciplines Through Using Psychological Theories of Motivation and Behavior

Erbe

2024

Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care

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Spiritual formation is the Spirit-directed process of forming pupils of Jesus into His image. Willard (2002; 2005) and Wright (2012) provide effective guidance for the spiritual growth process and place spiritual disciplines at the heart of change. Porter (2023) expresses the need for followers of Jesus to embody the spiritual disciplines and for those communicating about the process to do so in actionable ways. The current paper takes up this call by presenting psychological theories of motivation and behavior that can be seen in Jesus’ teaching of the spiritual disciplines in the Sermon on the Mount and that Christian leaders and teachers should use when teaching the disciplines to increase the likelihood that their students will embody the practices. Initial empirical support for using the Reasoned Action Approach when teaching meditation is highlighted. The paper concludes with practical suggestions for using both theories when teaching and communicating about the spiritual disciplines.

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Who Sticks with Meditation? Rates and Predictors of Persistence in a Population-based Sample in the USA

Cited by 9 publications

References 65 publications

Situating Meditation Apps Within the Ecosystem of Meditation Practice: Population-Based Survey Study

Situating Meditation Apps Within the Ecosystem of Meditation Practice: Population-Based Survey Study

A Systematic Review of the Adherence to Home-Practice Meditation Exercises in Patients with Chronic Pain

From Understanding to Embodying: Moving Beyond Teaching for Understanding of the Spiritual Disciplines Through Using Psychological Theories of Motivation and Behavior

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