Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Jan 12, 2021
Date Accepted: Apr 2, 2021
Evaluation of mood check-in on participation in meditation using a consumer-based meditation mobile app: Retrospective longitudinal analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Mindfulness meditation smartphone applications (apps) are popular apps to improve mental health but lack evidence-based behavioral strategies to encourage adherence. In October 2019, the Calm mindfulness meditation app introduced a mood check-in feature, but its effects on user adherence have yet to be tested.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to test whether a mood check-in feature within the Calm app improves adherence to app-based meditation practice.
Methods:
This was a retrospective longitudinal analysis of usage data from a random sample of first-time subscribers to the Calm app (N=2,600) who joined in summer 2018 or summer 2019. Regression analyses were used to compare the rate of change in meditation behavior before and after the introduction of mood check-ins and to estimate how pervious usage of mood check-ins predicted individuals’ future meditation behavior. Additional regression models examined the specific effects of prior mood check-ins containing a positively versus negatively rated mood.
Results:
Controlling for usage during the eight weeks prior and to usage trends among 2018 subscribers, the cumulative effect of eight weeks of mood check-ins was an estimated increase of approximately one meditation session. Positive mood check-ins during the previous week increase the odds of meditation by 1.224, but negative mood check-ins were not associated with future meditation behavior.
Conclusions:
Using mood check-ins increases meditation participation and the likelihood of meditation particularly for positive mood check-ins. Mobile apps should consider incorporating mood check-ins to sustain behavior or increase adherence but more research is warranted.
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