Design and evaluation of smartphone-based training for mindfulness and openness to experience

In this study a modified version of an app for training mindfulness and the mindfulness factor openness to experience, is presented. This study also extends the utility of an existing app, Positive Activity Jackpot. The Positive Activity Jackpot app uses gamified micro-tasks, by developing and integrating mindfulness-specific tasks. An evaluation of the app’s subjective and objective efficacy is reported from the findings in the following two studies: firstly, an expert review and secondly, a between subjects experiment. The newly created/modified app was rated by experts as a suitable tool for inducing the state mindfulness in the first study and demonstrated a significant training effect for state mindfulness in the second study, but failed to reach significance for the openness to experience measure. In conclusion, micro-tasks using mindfulness apps may fit current busy schedules, as well as engaging users through playful audio-visual feedback. The validity of the openness to experience sub-scale in this study, as well as the lack of appropriate state mindfulness instruments for evaluating digital mindfulness apps, were identified as main limitations.