The Effects of Deep Breathing and Positive Imagery on Stress and Coherence Levels among College-Age Women
Year: 2007
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Stress is steadily becoming a problem of epidemic proportions in American society. Diseases and other health problems that are a direct result of high, chronic stress levels are on the rise. As bad as they are, the physical effects of stress are not the only concern. There are also mental and emotional concerns to increased and continuous stress levels. It is therefore vitally important for people to learn effective methods for reducing stress. This study investigates two techniques done together, deep breathing and positive imagery, for their effectiveness in reducing stress and increasing coherence. The sample consisted of thirty 18-26 year-old female college students at Liberty University who volunteered and were randomly placed into either an experimental group or a control group. The hypothesis was that the techniques would increase coherence, which occurs when the heart and brain are perfectly synchronized, and thereby reduce stress. Results showed that the techniques effectively reduced low coherence levels and increased high coherence levels, indicating a reduction in stress.
Author: Sheerah R Tice
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W79558473