Massed and Spaced HMP App Dosage Study

Massed and Spaced Healthy Minds Program App Dosage Study

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 2 weeks of the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app Connection module in undergraduate students of a large, midwestern state university in the United States during the spring of 2021.

Participants will be recruited via email and/or flyers and will first complete an online screen. Eligible participants will complete baseline measures prior to attending an introductory session via web conferencing. During this session, participants will be randomly assigned to condition. Participants in both conditions will be asked to use the HMP app for 20 minutes per either, either split over two 10-minute session (Spaced condition) or in one 20-minute session (Massed condition). Participants will complete daily survey measures during the study and post-test measures after 2 weeks of intervention.

This study is primarily designed to assess feasibility and acceptability of 2 weeks of Connection training and assignment to dosage condition. Study team will investigate self-reported informal practice on the daily diary measure, measures of psychological distress (composite of depression, anxiety) and loneliness.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• Undergraduate at UW-Madison
• Access to a smartphone or device capable of downloading HMP app
• PROMIS Depression or PROMIS Anxiety ≥55

Exclusion Criteria:

• Meditation retreat experience
• Regular meditation practice (i.e., weekly practice for >1 year OR daily practice within previous 6 months)
• Previous practice under the instruction of a meditation teacher, other than in the context of an introductory course
• PROMIS Depression ≥70