Self-regulatory biofeedback training: an intervention to reduce school burnout and improve cardiac functioning in college students.

This study examined the effectiveness of a self-regulatory biofeedback intervention program (Heart Rate Variability Coherence Biofeedback Training [HRVCB]) in contrast to a protocol demonstrated to produce cognitive and physiological improvements (a high intensity interval training protocol [HIIT]) as well as a wait-list control condition at decreasing school burnout in an American collegiate sample (N = 90). Intervention training was conducted over a 4-week span (three sessions per week) with accompanying baseline and post-intervention assessments. In addition to measurements of school burnout and negative affect (depression and anxiety), intervention influences on cognition (via a serial subtraction task) and physiology (hemodynamics, electrocardiography, and a submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness test) were explored. Findings indicate HRVCB training significantly decreased school burnout and increased mathematical performance from pre- to post-intervention measurement. These changes did not occur for HIIT or waitlist participants. Brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure decreased pre to post-intervention for HRVCB but not HIIT or waitlist participants. Cardiovascular fitness (VO2max) improved pre to post-intervention for HIIT but not HRVCB or waitlist participants. Also, both HRVCB and HIIT training participants decreased heart rate from pre to post-intervention but not waitlist participants. Finally, all participants decreased cardiac sympathovagal tone from pre t...
Source: Stress - Category: Research Tags: Stress Source Type: research