Evaluating the Accessibility of Mindfulness and Meditation Information Online: A Content Analysis Using the Federal Plain Language Guidelines

Research indicates that mindfulness and meditation are effective and inexpensive ways of reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. People first search for information on the internet. However, the public’s access to clear health information online is occluded by variability in accessibility of this information. This study examined the accessibility of mediation and mindfulness information online; both keywords were investigated as they are often used interchangeably. The final sample (N = 136) included 76 websites from the search term “mindfulness” and 60 from the keyword “meditation.” Sites were evaluated using a codebook based on the Federal Plain Language Guidelines, a policy developed to provide advice on clear communication in writing government documents for the public. Evaluation occurred in three major domains: web page format, clear and concise language, and multimedia. Out of 14 possible categories, the mean adherence for websites obtained with the keyword “mindfulness” was 9.09 (SD = 1.71) and “meditation” was 9.23 (SD = 1.65), yielding a combined overall adherence mean of 9.15 (SD = 1.67). Overall, results indicate that about two-thirds of the Federal Plain Language Guidelines were adhered to in the sample. Future directions include evaluating the accuracy of the information provided, exploring differential accessibility needs of written materials based on format, and assessing the interaction between the written materials and human factors. Policy implications include the clarification of the ADA to include online public spaces, particularly those with health-related information. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.