Jennifer Huberty1, Megan E Puzia2, Jeni Green3, Robert D Vlisides-Henry4, Linda Larkey5, Michael R Irwin6, Ana-Maria Vranceanu7. 1. College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: jhuberty@asu.edu. 2. Behavioral Research and Analytics, LLC, 154 S St., Salt Lake City, UT 84103, USA. 3. College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: Jeni.green@asu.edu. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Electronic address: robert.vlisideshenry@psych.utah.edu. 5. Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA. Electronic address: Linda.larkey@asu.edu. 6. Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and Mindful Awareness Research Center, Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 300 UCLA Medical Plaza #3109, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: Mirwin1@ucla.edu. 7. Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, One Bowdoin Square, 1st Floor, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: avranceanu@mgh.harvard.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to 1) determine the effects of a meditation app on depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, and 2) explore the potential mediating effects of fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep arousal on the relationship between use of the meditation app and changes in depression and anxiety. METHODS: Participants were 239 adults with elevated insomnia symptoms (i.e., scores ≥ 10 on the Insomnia Severity Index) and limited or no previous experience with meditation. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep arousal were assessed at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. Repeated-measures ANCOVAs assessed intervention effects on depression and anxiety. Mediation models were estimated using the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: Participants in the meditation group had more improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms during the intervention period than did those in the control group. Changes in somatic and cognitive pre-sleep arousal at mid-intervention fully mediated effects on depression and partially mediated effects on anxiety. There were no significant indirect effects of fatigue and daytime-sleepiness on changes in mental health. CONCLUSIONS: A meditation app may improve depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, with effects being driven by improvements in pre-sleep arousal. Future studies should consider targeting pre-sleep arousal to improve mental health in this population.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to 1) determine the effects of a meditation app on depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, and 2) explore the potential mediating effects of fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep arousal on the relationship between use of the meditation app and changes in depression and anxiety. METHODS: Participants were 239 adults with elevated insomnia symptoms (i.e., scores ≥ 10 on the Insomnia Severity Index) and limited or no previous experience with meditation. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep arousal were assessed at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. Repeated-measures ANCOVAs assessed intervention effects on depression and anxiety. Mediation models were estimated using the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: Participants in the meditation group had more improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms during the intervention period than did those in the control group. Changes in somatic and cognitive pre-sleep arousal at mid-intervention fully mediated effects on depression and partially mediated effects on anxiety. There were no significant indirect effects of fatigue and daytime-sleepiness on changes in mental health. CONCLUSIONS: A meditation app may improve depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance, with effects being driven by improvements in pre-sleep arousal. Future studies should consider targeting pre-sleep arousal to improve mental health in this population.
Authors: Denise R Purdie; Myke Federman; Alan Chin; Diana Winston; Brenda Bursch; Richard Olmstead; Yonca Bulut; Michael R Irwin Journal: J Clin Psychol Med Settings Date: 2022-07-01