SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2023
Mindfulness-Based Mobile Apps and Their Impact on Well-Being in Nonclinical Populations: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Could the use of web-based applications assist in neuropsychiatric treatment? An umbrella review.BMC psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of Self-Compassion and Mindfulness Interventions on Mental Health and Work-Related Outcomes Among Japanese Workers: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- Web-Based Formal Versus Informal Mindfulness Programs for University Students With and Those Without Recent Self-Injury: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Mobile Intervention for Improving Perinatal Mental Health and Reducing Depression During Pregnancy: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- App-based mindfulness meditation reduces stress in novice meditators: a randomized controlled trial of headspace using ecological momentary assessment.Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine · 2025Trial
- Effects of a Smartphone-Based Mindfulness Intervention on Momentary Stress Among First Responders: a Micro-Randomized Trial.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2026Article
- Is happiness just a click away? Lessons learned from an unguided online well-being intervention for the general adult public.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Mindfulness on the Palm of Your Hand: A Systematic Review of Mobile Mindfulness Apps and Their Effects on Well-Being, Compassion, and Aggression in Non-Clinical Adults.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Article
- Mental health outcomes and use of online mental health tools following a public health deployment of the mindfulness meditation app headspace.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- Large Language Model Agents for Improving Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions: Application to Digital Mindfulness.Proceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction · 2025Article
- Article
- Improving Mental Health and Well-Being Through the Paradym App: Quantitative Study of Real-World Data.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- A Pilot Feasibility Evaluation of a Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback App to Improve Self-Care in COVID-19 Healthcare Workers.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2024Article
- Efficacy of a mobile-based intervention for newly graduated nurses: A randomized controlled trial.Digital healthArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMindfulness-based mobile apps have become popular tools for enhancing well-being in today's fast-paced world. Their ability to reduce geographical, financial, and social barriers makes them a promising alternative to traditional interventions.
objectiveAs most available apps lack a theoretical framework, this review aimed to evaluate their effectiveness and assess their quality. We expected to find small sample sizes, high dropout rates, and small effect sizes in the included studies.
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted using PsycInfo, PsycNet, PubMed, an institutional search engine (u:search), and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of mobile mindfulness apps on well-being in nonclinical samples were included. Study selection, risk of bias (using the version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials), and reporting quality (using selected CONSORT [Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials] statement criteria) assessments were performed by 2 authors independently and discussed until a consensus was reached.
resultsThe 28 included randomized controlled trials differed in well-being measures, apps, and intervention duration (7 to 56 days; median duration 28 days). A wide range of sample sizes (12 to 2282; median 161) and attrition rates (0% to 84.7%; median rate 23.4%) were observed. Most studies (19/28, 68%) reported positive effects on at least one aspect of well-being. The effects were presented using different metrics but were primarily small or small to medium in size. Overall risk of bias was mostly high.
conclusionsThe wide range of sample sizes, attrition rates, and intervention periods and the variation in well-being measures and mobile apps contributed to the limited comparability of the studies. Although most studies (16/28, 57%) reported small or small to medium effects for at least one well-being outcome, this review demonstrates that the generalizability of the results is limited. Further research is needed to obtain more consistent conclusions regarding the impact of mindfulness-based mobile apps on well-being in nonclinical populations.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.