(PS5-A25) Effects of Mobile App-based Mindfulness Practice on Healthcare Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) may be at greater risk of suffering from psychological distress compared to the general population. This study aimed to investigate the effects of mindfulness practice as delivered using Headspace on psychological and cognitive outcomes among HCWs in Singapore. A total of 80 HCWs were recruited and randomly assigned to engage in either three weeks (10 minutes/day) of mindfulness practice using Headspace or an active control condition (Lumosity; involving playing cognitive games). Participants were administered several self-report measures and two digit span tasks at pre- and post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Compared to the control condition, participants in the Headspace condition demonstrated trend-level improvements in depression (p = .057) and trait mindfulness (p = .054) from pre- to post-intervention. From pre-intervention to one-month follow-up, there were significantly greater improvements among Headspace participants on fear of COVID-19 (p = .005), compassion satisfaction (p = .007), trait mindfulness (p = .002), self-compassion (p = .005), sleep quality (p = .002), and the forward digit span task (p < .001). Several outcomes were mediated by increases in trait mindfulness or self-compassion. Mindfulness practice duration was associated with improvements in self-compassion from pre- to post-intervention (p = .024). In conclusion, Headspace may lead to downstream benefits in reducing distress and improving psychological health outcomes among HCWs. The findings have implications for improving psychological support resources for HCWs amidst a pandemic.