Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Apps in Mitigating Psychological Distress Among Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jou-Ting Lin; Jia-Yin Syu; Esther Ching-Lan Lin

doi:10.1007/s12671-026-02898-4

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Apps in Mitigating Psychological Distress Among Youth

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID	22429196
Authors	Jou-Ting Lin, Jia-Yin Syu (0000-0002-5686-9296), Esther Ching-Lan Lin (0000-0001-5134-1700)
Year	2026
Publication date	2026-06-19
Open Access	Yes
Type	ARTICLE
Venue	Mindfulness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiers	ISSN: 1868-8527 • E-ISSN: 1868-8535
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI	10.1007/s12671-026-02898-4
Language	EN
References cited	71

Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences
Jacob CohenStatistical Power Analysis for…2013
How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective
Open AccessBritta K Hölzel, Sara W Lazar et al.Perspectives on Psychological…2011
Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction
Open AccessKai Ruggeri, Eduardo Garcia-Garzon et al.Health and Quality of Life Outcomes2020
Mindfulness‐Based Interventions for University Students
Open AccessAnna F Dawson, William W Brown et al.Applied Psychology: Health and…2020
Rumination as a transdiagnostic factor in depression and anxiety
Open AccessKatie A Mclaughlin, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema et al.Behaviour Research and Therapy2011
Psychological distress
Open AccessSheila H RidnerJournal of Advanced Nursing2004
RoB 2
Open AccessJonathan Sterne, Jelena Savović et al.BMJ2019
Mindfulness-based interventions
Open AccessDexing Zhang, Kam-Pui Lee et al.British Medical Bulletin2021
Epidemiology of Psychological Distress
Open AccessAline Drapeau, Anne Marchand et al.Mental Illnesses2012
Mechanisms of mindfulness
Open AccessShauna L Shapiro, Linda E Carlson et al.Journal of Clinical Psychology2006
The PRISMA 2020 statement
Open AccessMatthew J Page, Joanne E McKenzie et al.BMJ2021
Mindfulness
Open AccessScott R Bishop, Mark A Lau et al.Clinical Psychology: Science and…2004
Emotion Regulation
James J Gro, James J GrossPsychological Inquiry2015
Mindfulness-based interventions in context
Open AccessJon Kabat‐zinn, Jon Kabat-ZinnClinical Psychology: Science and…2003
Mindfulness to improve the mental health of university students. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Open AccessAna María González-Martín, Agustín Aibar‐Almazán et al.Frontiers in Public Health2023
Effects of Mindfulness Exercise Guided by a Smartphone App on Negative Emotions and Stress in Non-Clinical Populations
Open AccessJinlong Wu, Yudan Ma et al.Frontiers in Public Health2022
Filling the mental service gap on campus
Open AccessYeseul Min, Yong-Seok Choi et al.Current Psychology2024
App-based mindfulness meditation for psychological distress and adjustment to college in incoming university students
Jayde A M Flett, Tamlin S Conner et al.Psychology & Health2020
Improving Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Stress
Open AccessH-G Schaller, Constance KaringEcopsychology2024
Examining the effect of mindfulness on well-being
Open AccessKristine Klussman, Nicola Curtin et al.Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology2020
The meditation app revolution
Open AccessJ David Creswell, Stephen B Goldberg et al.American Psychologist2025
Mind the Hype
Open AccessNicholas T Van Dam, Marieke K Van Vugt et al.Perspectives on Psychological…2017

Tools

Open DOI