Anxiety State, Stress
Conditions
Brief summary
The objective of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a heart rate variability biofeedback training protocol, compared to a guided meditation program and a control group, in reducing stress and anxiety levels among university undergraduate students.
Interventions
An 8-week intervention based on daily 10-minute HRV biofeedback training at rest using the Pulse HRV smartphone application.
BEHAVIORALGuided meditation
An 8-week intervention based on daily 10-minute guided meditation sessions led by an instructor with over 20 years of experience in teaching meditation.
Sponsors
University of Seville
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Second- and third-year students of the Physiotherapy Degree at various universities in the province of Seville. 2. Enrolled in all courses for the academic year. 3. Enrolled in the courses for the first or second time.
Exclusion criteria
1. Having a job in addition to academic responsibilities. 2. Having a dependent family member under their care. 3. Diagnosed with any mental health issues. 4. Diagnosed with severe metabolic, cardiovascular, or respiratory conditions, or cancer. 5. Simultaneously pursuing another degree or a dual degree program.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stress | T0: Before the intervention; T1: At one month, before the exam period; T2: At two months, after the semester ends; T3: At three-month follow-up | Measured using the Percieved Stress Scale (PSS). |
| Anxiety State | T0: Before the intervention; T1: At one month, before the exam period; T2: At two months, after the semester ends; T3: At three-month follow-up | Measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | T0: Before the intervention; T1: At one month, before the exam period; T2: At two months, after the semester ends; T3: At three-month follow-up | Measured using the Polar H10 band and Elite HRV app. |
| Academic Performance | T0: Before the intervention; T1: At one month, before the exam period; T2: At two months, after the semester ends; T3: At three-month follow-up | Semester grade averages compared between groups. |
| Adherence | Daily during the 8 week intervention | Tracked using an online calendar. |
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHermann Fricke-Comellas, PhD Student
University of Seville
Outcome results
None listed