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 January 4, 2025 Matthew J Zawadzki, Zoltan A Torok, Mercedes Peña et al. 7 citations
A randomized controlled trial with 138 university employees found that using the Headspace meditation app for 10 minutes daily reduced subjective stress and perseverative cognitions by week 2, and improved perceived coping by week 5, with effects lasting through week 8. No changes were observed for stressor appraisal. The control group reported increases in stress and perseverative cognitions and decreases in coping over the same period. The study used ecological momentary assessments five times daily across four days at multiple points, yielding 6260 observations. Headspace was effective at reducing stress in a high-stress environment, suggesting quick and sustained benefits from meditation practice.