Thriving in a Digital World: A Mindfulness-Based Pilot to Support Sleep and Mental Health in Teens

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to understand the feasibility and acceptability on a mindfulness-based intervention to address co-existing smartphone addiction and psychological distress among adolescents ages 13-19 self-reporting elevated levels of depression and/or anxiety symptoms and problematic digital phone use. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) is Mindwire, a mindfulness-based intervention, feasible and acceptable in addressing co-existing smartphone addiction and psychological distress among adolescents; and (b) what are the mechanistic pathways, particularly the role of circadian rhythm, sleep quality, and emotion regulation, in phone use and psychological distress. Participants will be in this research study for 3 months. After screening and onboarding, they will be asked to: * participate in 18 days of the Mindwire program * answer a 45-60 minute online survey immediately before, immediately after, and approximately six weeks after the Mindwire program * participate in a 60-90 minute interview asking about their experience going through the program

Eligibility

Age range

13–19 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Mindwire

  Mindwire is an 18-day mindfulness-based, app-delivered program to support adolescents develop better coping skills and be more intentional about their phone use. In the first 4 days, participants will be listening to 5-6 short audio recordings, accompanied by text transcripts as a foundational introduction (\~4-5 minutes each), followed by booster audio recordings on Days 8 and 12. The modules will cover a variety of topics including effects of light and stress on sleep, common sleep myths, mindful wind-down routines, and stress management. Then from Days 5 to 18 (i.e., 2 weeks), participants will be asked to complete up to 3 brief surveys per day, focused on their mood and emotions. For some of these surveys, they may also be asked to complete a brief mindfulness practice. The surveys and mindfulness practices will come out to a total of approximately 30 minutes per day.

Location