Streaming mindfulness: Well-being and mindfulness among subscribers to a video streaming service

• Published in: Internet interventions : the application of information technology in mental and behavioural health 2021-09, Vol.25, p.100419-100419, Article 100419
• Main Authors: Taylor, Greenberry, Alpert, Jordan, Waddell, T. Franklin, Bylund, Carma L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Emerging technology; Exploratory study; Full length; Mindfulness; Nonclinical; Video streaming; Well-being
• ISSN: 2214-7829; 2214-7829
• DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100419

Internet and smartphone technology have advanced the dissemination of mindfulness practices and philosophy. This study explored how individuals interact with Spectiv, a subscription-based video streaming service (VSS) that advertises content for meditation, and measured levels of mindfulness and well-being. We hypothesized that users engaging with Spectiv for longer sessions and on a regular basis would report higher levels of mindfulness and well-being. A 46-question online survey was developed and distributed to all active subscribers of Spectiv (N = 119). The survey included two validated scales: (1) The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale, and (2) The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. A series of one-way ANOVAs were performed, along with a simple linear regression and descriptive statistics. Users reported relaxation as the most common activity. Levels of mindfulness and well-being were significantly higher for users whose session-duration lasted 2 hours (p = .01) and 3 hours (p = .03). Users engaging with the VSS daily had significant levels of both mindfulness (p