The Multi-dimensional Influencing Factors in the Use of Mindfulness Apps: Mixed-methods Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kim Minjung , Park Jin Young , Chung Kyungmi 
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

As recognition of mindfulness grows, mobile mindfulness apps targeting the public population have proliferated. However, research on mobile mindfulness apps and interventions reveals high attrition rates or dropout rates, which not only hinders efforts to demonstrate the effects of mindfulness training but also limits users' chance to fully experience its benefits. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing the continuance and attrition motivation of mobile mindfulness apps.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the factors associated with the continuation and attrition of mindfulness app usage, focusing on the personality, emotional, and cognitive characteristics of users who continued or discontinued app use, as well as those who have not used the app. A text-mining analysis of qualitative feedback on the app's continuance and attrition motivations was also conducted to understand user motivation.

METHODS

Participants were recruited through an online panel research organization. All participants completed two surveys: the first assessed emotional and cognitive characteristics, including depression, anxiety, dysfunctional self-focus attributes, and overall experiences with mindfulness practice; the second evaluated personality traits, including temperament and character. Participants were then clustered based on their mindfulness or mobile mindfulness experiences, and the resulting group compared the score of personality, emotional, and cognitive factors through ANCOVA. Finally, word clustering and semantic network analysis were used to examine the perceived continuance and attrition motivations of mobile mindfulness.

RESULTS

A total of 190 participants were included in the final analysis. The three groups identified through the two-step clustering showed significant sociodemographic differences in age (P=.002) and marital status (P=.005). There were also significant differences in personality traits, including harm avoidance (P=.02), self-directedness (P=.01) and self-transcendence (P=.004). Emotional characteristics also differed significantly, with variations in depression (P=.03), state anxiety (P=.04) and trait anxiety (P=.04). Furthermore, cognitive aspects, particularly negatively biased focus ((P=.001), were significantly different. A semantic network analysis revealed that the primary factor influencing continuance motivation for using mobile mindfulness apps was the diversity and accessibility of programs and content. Conversely, the main factor contributing to attrition motivation was related to subscription status and the limited availability of content.

CONCLUSIONS

The clustered groups revealed distinct mobile mindfulness usage patterns, along with unique personality, cognitive, and emotional characteristics. Additionally, participants with mobile mindfulness experience determined whether to continue or discontinue use based on the range of content options and the emotions or effects they encountered through the mobile mindfulness. These findings provide valuable insights for developers and researchers in the field of digital mindfulness interventions, especially for addressing retention and reducing attrition.