Parent Experiences Using a Mindfulness App for Mental Health Wellbeing

Objective: The purpose of this exploratory descriptive study was to describe parents’ experiences using the mobile application (app) Headspace. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was a part of a larger study that examined the mental health effects of mindfulness on caregivers of a child with medical complexity. Caregivers who participated in the four week mindfulness study could volunteer for an interview conducted over Zoom. Focused questions about the utility of the app, barriers to use, factors facilitating use, and perceptions about the app were asked. Interviews were transcribed, coded for themes, and validated with participants via member checking. Results: Three themes emerged. First, breathing exercises in the mindfulness app were seen as the most helpful feature in the app. Second, participants were overwhelmed with the vast number of choices the app gave them. Third, participants reported that their lives were already very busy managing the care of their child(ren), so finding time to use the app and engage in self-care was a challenge. Conclusion: Mindfulness may be an intervention that works well with some parents. The ease of apps has increased the availability of mindfulness sessions for parents who may be unable to physically go to a session or cannot afford counseling, but some barriers to full use exist. Simpler app design may better meet the needs of these parents. It is important for pediatric healthcare providers to offer and encourage resources that are cost effective and flexible to use. By better understanding parent experiences using the app, healthcare providers may be able to assist parents in overcoming barriers to using this resource.