Overall Score: 15/15
Consumer Ratings: 2/2
Proposed Goal: 2/2
Evidence Based Content: 1/1
Software Updates: 2/2
Clinical Input in Development: 1/1
Research on Development Process: 1/1
Efficacy of Other Products: 1/1
Research Independence and Review: 2/2
Research Base: 3/3
Rating Date: August 2020
Learn more about the Credibility Rating
Headspace is an app that aims to bring the principles of mindfulness meditation to users’ lives, and hopes to improve concentration and mood, reduce anxiety, and increase productivity. Users can complete a 10-session free trial before deciding to purchase a subscription that provides access to a wide variety of sessions and programs. The Headspace library includes single meditations, session packs, meditations for children, and animated meditations. Users can choose programs and progress through Headspace at their own pace. Additional features include meditation reminders, tracking your practice statistics, and inviting a buddy to join and meditate with.
Available for: Requires iOS 11.0 and watchOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Requires Android 5.0 and up. Available on the Web
Developer: Headspace Inc.
Type of Treatment: Mindfulness
Targeted Conditions: Mood Disorders, Stress and Anxiety, Sleep
Target Audience: Not Specified
Designed to be used in conjunction with a professional? No
Languages Available: English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Get it on: Apple App Store, Google Play, Web
In a randomized controlled trial, 95 participants were randomly assigned to use either Headspace (n = 54) or a brain training app, Lumosity (n = 41) for 30 days. The Headspace 65% female with a mean age of 41.4 years, and the Lumosity group was 71% female with a mean age of 43.4 years. Mind wandering and dispositional mindfulness were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results showed significant reductions in mind wandering and significant increases in dispositional mindfulness in the mindfulness training group but not the brain training group. (Bennike, I. H., Wieghorst, A., & Kirk, U. 2017. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41465-017-0020-9)
In another study, participants were randomly assigned to use Headspace (n = 57) or a list-making application called Catch Notes (n = 64) for 10 days. Participants in the Headspace group were 83% female with a mean age of 39.7 years, and participants in the Catch Notes group were 88% female with a mean age of 40.8 years. Results showed significant increases in positive affect and reduced depressive symptoms in the Headspace group, but not the Catch Notes group. No statistically significant differences in satisfaction with life, flourishing or negative affect were found. (Howells, A., Ivtzan, I., & Eiroa-Orosa, F. J. 2016. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-014-9589-1)
A third study randomly assigned women with breast cancer to Headspace (N = 57) or waitlist control (N = 55) over 8 weeks. Participants assigned to Headspace reported higher quality of life, compared with those assigned to the waitlist control. Headspace participants also reported higher dispositional mindfulness. (Rosen, K. D., Paniagua, S. M., Kazanis, W., Jones, S., & Potter, J. S. 2018. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pon.4764?casa_token=hXiB0h6XpT8AAAAA%3AWMscih3gM52BD0aASLdNzGxIscJAMZaPBYOpveK_BHNbqkFNMuCQyTCita0nIOM3v0LaMzHAoefWwgZeAQ)
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