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The Effect of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training on Mental Health of Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
- Source :
-
International journal of environmental research and public health [Int J Environ Res Public Health] 2019 Mar 23; Vol. 16 (6). Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Mar 23. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- In this study, we examined the efficacy of heart rate variability (HRV)-biofeedback on stress and stress-related mental health problems in women. Furthermore, we examined whether the efficacy differed between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Fifty women (20 pregnant, 30 non-pregnant; mean age 31.6, SD = 5.9) were randomized into an intervention ( n = 29) or a waitlist condition ( n = 21). All participants completed questionnaires on stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, and psychological well-being on three occasions with 6-week intervals. Women in the intervention condition received HRV-biofeedback training between assessment 1 and 2, and women in the waitlist condition received the intervention between assessment 2 and 3. The intervention consisted of a 5-week HRV-biofeedback training program with weekly 60⁻90 min. sessions and daily exercises at home. Results indicated a statistically significant beneficial effect of HRV-biofeedback on psychological well-being for all women, and an additional statistically significant beneficial effect on anxiety complaints for pregnant women. No significant effect was found for the other stress-related complaints. These findings support the use of HRV-biofeedback as a stress-reducing technique among women reporting stress and related complaints in clinical practice to improve their well-being. Furthermore, it supports the use of this technique for reducing anxiety during pregnancy.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Anxiety epidemiology
Anxiety prevention & control
Depression epidemiology
Depression prevention & control
Female
Humans
Netherlands epidemiology
Pregnancy
Sleep
Stress, Psychological epidemiology
Stress, Psychological prevention & control
Young Adult
Biofeedback, Psychology methods
Heart Rate physiology
Mental Health statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1660-4601
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of environmental research and public health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30909539
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16061051