Evaluating the Impact of an App-Delivered Mindfulness Meditation Program to Reduce Stress and Anxiety During Pregnancy: Pilot Longitudinal Study

Donna Balsam; Dawn T Bounds; Amir M Rahmani; Adeline Nyamathi

doi:10.2196/53933

Evaluating the Impact of an App-Delivered Mindfulness Meditation Program to Reduce Stress and Anxiety During Pregnancy: Pilot Longitudinal Study

JMIR Pediatr Parent. 2023 Dec 25:6:e53933. doi: 10.2196/53933.

Authors

Donna Balsam¹, Dawn T Bounds², Amir M Rahmani², Adeline Nyamathi²

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.
² Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.

PMID: 38145479
PMCID: PMC10775027
DOI: 10.2196/53933

Abstract

Background: Stress and anxiety during pregnancy are extremely prevalent and are associated with numerous poor outcomes, among the most serious of which are increased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants. Research supports that while in-person mindfulness training is effective in reducing pregnancy stress and anxiety, there are barriers limiting accessibility.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to determine if mindfulness meditation training with the Headspace app is effective for stress and anxiety reduction during pregnancy.

Methods: A longitudinal, single-arm trial was implemented with 20 pregnant women who were instructed to practice meditation via the Headspace app twice per day during the month-long trial. Validated scales were used to measure participant's levels of stress and anxiety pre- and postintervention. Physiological measures reflective of stress (heart rate variability and sleep) were collected via the Oura Ring.

Results: Statistically significant reductions were found in self-reported levels of stress (P=.005), anxiety (P=.01), and pregnancy anxiety (P<.0001). Hierarchical linear modeling revealed a statistically significant reduction in the physiological data reflective of stress in 1 of 6 heart rate variability metrics, the low-frequency power band, which decreased by 13% (P=.006). A total of 65% of study participants (n=13) reported their sleep improved during the trial, and 95% (n=19) stated that learning mindfulness helped with other aspects of their lives. Participant retention was 100%, with 65% of participants (n=13) completing about two-thirds of the intervention, and 50% of participants (n=10) completing ≥95%.

Conclusions: This study found evidence to support the Headspace app as an effective intervention to aid in stress and anxiety reduction during pregnancy.

Keywords: alternative; anxiety; app; applications; apps; complementary; heart rate; heart rate variability; mHealth; maternal; meditation; mental health; mind-body; mindfulness; mindfulness app; mobile health; mobile phone; obstetric; obstetrics; pregnancy; pregnant; sleep; stress.

©Donna Balsam, Dawn T Bounds, Amir M Rahmani, Adeline Nyamathi. Originally published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting (https://pediatrics.jmir.org), 25.12.2023.