The Process of Learning Mindfulness and Acceptance through the Use of a Mobile App Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Grounded Theory Analysis.

This study aimed to explore the process of how college student military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms learn mindfulness and acceptance through the use of a mobile app based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Twenty-three college student veterans with PTSD symptoms participated in the 4-week ACT mobile app-based intervention and took part in three weekly semi-structured interviews. Results of the grounded theory data analysis reveal the core category of Mindful Scaffolding, a process indicating how student veterans cope with the interruptions and intrusions associated with learning mindfulness and acceptance through the use of the ACT-based app. The grounded theory provides a foundational theoretical framework for increasing adherence with using mindfulness- and acceptance-based mobile app interventions for PTSD.