None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is a randomised controlled trial, comparing the participation in a Smiling Mind program with a waitlist/control group. Participants will be recruited through facebook and will be given the participation information statement outlining the research. Those agreeing to participate will be redirected to the initial survey (baseline data collection) which will be generated through REDcap survey software. Once the survey is complete participants will be randomised to either the waitlist/control group, or participation in a Smiling Mind program of their choice (sleep, relationships, or stress). Participants allocated to the waitlist group will receive an email with detailing that they will need to wait to join the program. Participants allocated to participate in the program will be sent instructions for joining the program. Participants will be asked to complete the initial survey (minus questions asking about demographics, and their experience with mindfulness practice) at two more time points: two weeks (half way), and four weeks (conclusion of the program). The data collected from the surveys at each time-point will be analysed to assess if there is a difference between the experimental and control groups. As an incentive to complete follow up surveys participants who complete all of the surveys will go in the draw win one $100 Amazon gift voucher. Throughout the study the Smiling Mind team will monitor using participant email addresses provided at baseline whether intervention participants have downloaded the application and are participating. If after 5 days participants have not downloaded the app and started engaging in the program, then the University of Newcastle team will send an email reminder. The email address will also be used to match participant responses between surveys. The data collected from interventions application usage will also be analysed to determine patterns of usage and engagement. It is hypothesised that participants who engage in the Smiling Mind program will have significantly improved well-being in comparison to the control group.
Interventions
The Smiling Mind app targets three primary areas of daily functioning: stress reduction, increase sleep quality, and reduced loneliness. The users are able to choose which program (or all) they would like to register for.
Once participants complete the consent form and baseline assessment (via online platform: REDcap), they will be randomised in to one of two conditions: waitlist/control group, or app treatment group. Respondents randomised to the app treatment group get sent an email with inst
The Smiling Mind app targets three primary areas of daily functioning: stress reduction, increase sleep quality, and reduced loneliness. The users are able to choose which program (or all) they would like to register for. Once participants complete the consent form and baseline assessment (via online platform: REDcap), they will be randomised in to one of two conditions: waitlist/control group, or app treatment group. Respondents randomised to the app treatment group get sent an email with instructions on how to download and get started with the programs (of their choice). The activities in the app includes audio guided meditations, which the participants are encouraged to engage with every day, however, the minimum number of meditations required is five over two weeks. The intervention duration is four weeks in total, with the baseline assessment given to participants at two weeks and four weeks. Before the two- and four-week assessments are sent to participants in the treatment group, research team members from Smiling Mind (listed and approved on ethics) will check the registration and engagement in the app via the email address provided by the participant. Participants allocated to the waitlist/control group will be asked to declare any engagement in mindfulness meditation at the beginning of the two- and four-week online surveys. Declaration of engagement deems them ineligible to continue with the project. All participants who complete all three assessments go into the draw to win a $100 Amazon voucher, emailed to them at the conclusion of the project.
Sponsors
University of Newcastle
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Over 18 years old, Australian resident, English speaking, Regular access to a smart phone with internet access, Self-declared good physical and mental health, with no previous (within the past 3 years) or current diagnosis of a psychiatric illness such as depression or anxiety.
Exclusion criteria
Under 18 years of age, Non-English speaking, No smartphone with internet access, A diagnosis of a psychiatric illness within the previous three years, Having practiced mindfulness previously
Outcome results
None listed