(PS6-26) Feasibility and acceptability of a brief app-based mindfulness intervention for sexual and gender minority individuals

Abstract Text: Sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM) often experience discrimination, as well as increased stress and marginalization relative to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. These experiences have been shown to contribute to several well-documented mental health disparities, including higher rates of depression and anxiety among SGM individuals. Previous research supports the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among the general population. However, barriers including time, resources, and financial means may impact the feasibility of engaging in traditional mindfulness interventions. Emerging evidence suggests that app-based mindfulness interventions may be effective in improving mental health in the general population, yet the implementation and utilization of app-based mindfulness in SGM individuals remains in infancy. As such, this study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 14-day app-based mindfulness intervention among SGM participants. The Healthy Minds App was developed by Healthy Minds Innovations and is widely available as it is a free smartphone app. Barriers and facilitators associated with engagement in the intervention were also assessed. Eighteen SGM adults were recruited online via Prolific to participate in this mixed-method study. The present study provides encouraging quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness intervention among SGM individuals. Six qualitative themes emerged which can all be related to barriers and facilitators of engagement in app-based mindfulness among SGM individuals. The first two themes represent pure facilitators of engagement (Theme 1: Mindfulness is perceived as an effective self-regulation skill and Theme 2: App-based mindfulness “comes in all different shapes and sizes and lengths”). The next three themes contain features of both facilitators and barriers to engagement (Theme 3: Mindfulness and sleep are interdependent; Theme 4: “If my mental health were to get worse… I would use mindfulness more”; and Theme 5: Perceived competence impacts engagement in mindfulness). The final theme (Theme 6: Lack of time and routine limit use of app-based mindfulness) is indicative of barriers to engagement in app-based mindfulness. Finally, preliminary evidence suggests that app-based mindfulness can be effective for increasing overall well-being and mindfulness among SGM individuals. The findings presented in this study add to the growing body of literature supporting the creation and implementation of acceptable and feasible interventions for SGM individuals. Future research should rigorously examine whether digital mindfulness interventions can reduce the impact of minority stress and improve SGM mental health via low cost and highly accessible digital health platforms to adequately address the unique needs of this group.