caa a22 4500 606203842 CHVBK 20210128100959.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10484-015-9293-x doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10484-015-9293-x Physical Activity, Mindfulness Meditation, or Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Stress Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial [Elektronische Daten] [Judith van der Zwan, Wieke de Vente, Anja Huizink, Susan Bögels, Esther de Bruin] In contemporary western societies stress is highly prevalent, therefore the need for stress-reducing methods is great. This randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of self-help physical activity (PA), mindfulness meditation (MM), and heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) in reducing stress and its related symptoms. We randomly allocated 126 participants to PA, MM, or HRV-BF upon enrollment, of whom 76 agreed to participate. The interventions consisted of psycho-education and an introduction to the specific intervention techniques and 5weeks of daily exercises at home. The PA exercises consisted of a vigorous-intensity activity of free choice. The MM exercises consisted of guided mindfulness meditation. The HRV-BF exercises consisted of slow breathing with a heart rate variability biofeedback device. Participants received daily reminders for their exercises and were contacted weekly to monitor their progress. They completed questionnaires prior to, directly after, and 6weeks after the intervention. Results indicated an overall beneficial effect consisting of reduced stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and improved psychological well-being and sleep quality. No significant between-intervention effect was found, suggesting that PA, MM, and HRV-BF are equally effective in reducing stress and its related symptoms. These self-help interventions provide easily accessible help for people with stress complaints. The Author(s), 2015 Physical activity nationallicence Mindfulness meditation nationallicence Heart rate variability biofeedback nationallicence Stress nationallicence Anxiety nationallicence van der Zwan Judith Department of Developmental Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut de Vente Wieke Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut Huizink Anja Department of Developmental Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut Bögels Susan Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut de Bruin Esther Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 40/4(2015-12-01), 257-268 1090-0586 40:4<257 2015 40 10484 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-015-9293-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-015-9293-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- van der Zwan Judith Department of Developmental Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- de Vente Wieke Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Huizink Anja Department of Developmental Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Bögels Susan Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- de Bruin Esther Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 40/4(2015-12-01), 257-268 1090-0586 40:4<257 2015 40 10484