Schleicher, Daniel and Jarvers, Irina and Kocur, Martin and Kandsperger, Stephanie and Brunner, Romuald and Ecker, Angelika (2024) Does it need an app? - Differences between app-guided breathing and natural relaxation in adolescents after acute stress. PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, 169: 107148. ISSN 0306-4530, 1873-3360
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
A key component of stress management and biofeedback training is the use of relaxation exercises, such as slow/ deep breathing (6 breaths/minute) in heart coherence exercises (HCEs). Breathing exercises are also increasingly being integrated into smartphones as part of health apps, though their effectiveness in adolescents after acute stress has rarely been validated scientifically. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of an app-guided HCE (n = 36) after an acute stress situation (Trier Social Stress Test) compared with natural relaxation (n = 37), among healthy adolescents (aged 11-17 years). Endocrine, autonomic, and psychological stress parameters (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate, heart rate variability, mood) were examined in 73 adolescents (46 female, 27 male; Mage = 13.86, SDage = 1.87). Significant group differences were found in heart rate variability, with higher values in the low frequency band and low-to-high frequency ratio for the HCE condition, possibly indicating improved physiological functions through the stimulation of vagal tone and baroreflex. The use of a general breathing technique (natural and app-guided) also resulted in stronger relaxation reactions in cortisol when controlling for the previous stronger stress reactivity. On the other hand, app-guided slow breathing without a long training may be experienced as more uncomfortable during relaxation. The integration of breathing exercises in health apps for adolescents appears to be useful, offering a helpful and low-threshold coping/relaxation strategy during acute stress situations. Further studies should examine the benefits of appguided breathing exercises in both psychiatric samples and the general population across a wide age range.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY; ARTERIAL BAROREFLEX SENSITIVITY; PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS; CORTISOL RESPONSES; BLOOD-PRESSURE; SYMPTOMS; Health App; Slow Deep Breathing; Stress; Children and Adolescents; Coping; Trier Social Stress Test |
| Subjects: | 000 Computer science, information & general works > 004 Computer science 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie Languages and Literatures > Institut für Information und Medien, Sprache und Kultur (I:IMSK) > Lehrstuhl für Medieninformatik (Prof. Dr. Christian Wolff) Informatics and Data Science > Department Human-Centered Computing > Lehrstuhl für Medieninformatik (Prof. Dr. Christian Wolff) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Sep 2025 10:19 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Sep 2025 10:19 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/64008 |
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