App-based mindfulness training supported eudaimonic wellbeing during the COVID19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Mindfulness Studies
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented adversity, impacting global mental health.
• Eudaimonic wellbeing, encompassing self-transcendent emotions, is crucial for resilience.
• Digital interventions offer accessible avenues for mental health support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of mobile-phone app-based mindfulness training.
• To determine if mindfulness training enhances wellbeing and self-transcendent emotions (gratitude, self-compassion, awe).
• To examine the association between changes in wellbeing and self-transcendent emotions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 219 participants was conducted over 6 weeks.
• Participants were assigned to either a mindfulness training group or a waiting-list control group.
• Latent change score modeling was employed to analyze changes in wellbeing and self-transcendent emotions.

Main Results:

• Mindfulness training significantly increased overall wellbeing.
• Participants in the training group showed significant increases in gratitude, self-compassion, and awe.
• Changes in self-transcendent emotions were positively associated with changes in wellbeing across both groups.

Conclusions:

• Mobile-phone app-based mindfulness is an effective intervention for enhancing eudaimonic wellbeing.
• Mindfulness practice may foster resilience during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Further research is warranted to explore the causal link between self-transcendent emotions and mindfulness-induced wellbeing.