JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular in Western Society due to its health benefits; however, barriers to delivering meditation programs in traditional group-based formats have limited the accessibility of these benefits. Meditation delivered on a smartphone app may be an effective means of increasing the availability of these programs to larger, more diverse audiences. Despite their promise, empirical research on the characteristics and usage patterns of subscribers to mindfulness-based mobile apps is lacking.

Objective:

The purpose of this paper is to describe the demographics, clinical characteristics, and usage patterns of a convenient sample of subscribers to Calm, a top-rated consumer-based meditation mobile app. Additionally, we explore the relationship between frequency of use and self-reported changes in health, stress, and sleep.

Methods:

Participants were 12151 paying Calm subscribers who completed an 18-question survey related to user engagement, reasons for starting Calm, and changes after using the app. Respondents also provided information on demographic characteristics, chronic health diagnoses, and sleep difficulties.

Results:

: Respondents were between the ages of 18 and 96 (mean = 48.6, SD = 14.0). Most identified as female (79.94%; n = 8778|10981) and White (81.41%; n = 8595|11005). Over half (56.86%; n = 6289|11061) had a chronic health diagnosis when they downloaded the app, with mental health diagnoses (41.13%; n = 4549) being more common than physical health diagnoses (32.19%; n = 3560). Most respondents (76.46%; n = 8704|11380) reported difficulties falling and/or staying asleep. On average, respondents had been using Calm for 11.49 months (SD = 10.49), and 60.03% (n = 7281|12129) used it five or more times per week. Meditations (used by 80.02%, n = 9497|11841) and Sleep Stories (55.66%; n = 6591) were the most popular components. The frequency of using Calm was associated with incremental increases in the likeliness of noticing changes in mental health (χ22 = 136.78, P < .001), physical health (χ22 = 102.76, P < .001), stress (χ22 = 128.08, P < .001), and sleep (χ22 = 141.38, P < .001). Subscribers with sleep difficulties used Calm more frequently (χ82 = 11.47, P = .003), were more likely to use Sleep Stories (χ12 = 1590.19, P < .001), and were more likely to notice changes in their physical health (χ12 = 49.25, P < .001) and sleep (χ12 = 2391.11, P < .001).

Conclusions:

This is the first study to report the demographic and clinical characteristics and usage patterns among subscribers to a mindfulness-meditation app. Information presented here provides valuable information for Calm and/or other mindfulness-based apps about strategies to tailor content and potentially increase subscribers and/or retention rates. Results also support future clinical trials using Calm to understand its efficacy in improving mental and physical health, stress, and sleep.