Pilot testing in app-based meditation intervention among firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic

Firefighters are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working to transport and treat sick patients. Fear of contracting the virus and constant vigilance of not infecting family members is a significant source of stress and impacts their well-being and physiological functioning. Aimed at addressing this stress, we implemented a 10-day app-based meditation intervention designed to reduce stressful thoughts by promoting mindfulness. Participants (N = 35) were active-duty firefighters from a large metropolitan area in the Southwest. Firefighters completed 10-minute sessions each day with the mobile app created by Healthy Minds Innovations (Madison, WI) and reported daily COVID-19-related stress and well-being. Saliva samples were taken before and after the intervention. After the intervention, firefighters reported lower anxiety symptoms, (t(32)=2.70, p=.01), lower burnout, (t(32)=2.03, p=.05), and lower negative affect, (t(25)=2.50, p=.02), lower waking cortisol (t(18) = 2.61, p =.02), and lower cortisol output across the day, (t(15) = 2.127, p =.05). Results suggest the meditation app reduced psychological/physiological distress and could be a fast, low-cost, and scalable intervention to promote well-being among firefighters.