Exploring Meditation App Dosage and Psychological Distress
Exploring the nuanced relationship between meditation app use and psychological distress among justice-involved youth
CDIS faculty members Dr. Ashley D. Kendall and Dr. Bethany C. Bray co-authored a new study published in Clinical Psychological Science examining how different ways of measuring “dosage” of a meditation app relate to changes in psychological distress. The study analyzed data from over 600 users in a randomized controlled trial, exploring 41 models that assessed dosage (e.g., minutes of use, days of use, and type of activity completed) and psychological outcomes.
While some models showed that greater usage was linked to decreased depression and anxiety, others found no relationship, or even opposite trends, depending on how dosage was defined.
Why it matters: The findings highlight the challenges of evaluating digital health tools and the importance of how researchers define and analyze usage. This work offers key insights for optimizing app-based interventions and advancing open science in mental health research.
