Take a deep breath...: Effects of slow breathing intervention on subclinical socially anxious adolescents' heart rate variability

Social anxiety can be defined as fear of negative evaluation or feeling as if one’s own presence makes others uncomfortable in social situations and, when disproportionate and impairing, it is classified as social anxiety disorder (SAD). Anxiety disorders, which commonly present hyperventilation, are linked to slow heart rate variability (HRV). Slow breathing techniques show positive psycho-physiological effects by achieving high HRV, but studies on the effects of these techniques in relation to SAD are lacking. The goal of this study is to find support for a short, non-invasive, and cost-efficient slow breathing intervention as a preventative measure for individuals who are more socially anxious, particularly adolescents most susceptible to SAD. In the current study, a brief digital slow breathing intervention was performed on socially anxious young adults, aged 16-24 years, and its effects on HRV was measured during the intervention and, subsequently, a public speaking task. Using...Show moreSocial anxiety can be defined as fear of negative evaluation or feeling as if one’s own presence makes others uncomfortable in social situations and, when disproportionate and impairing, it is classified as social anxiety disorder (SAD). Anxiety disorders, which commonly present hyperventilation, are linked to slow heart rate variability (HRV). Slow breathing techniques show positive psycho-physiological effects by achieving high HRV, but studies on the effects of these techniques in relation to SAD are lacking. The goal of this study is to find support for a short, non-invasive, and cost-efficient slow breathing intervention as a preventative measure for individuals who are more socially anxious, particularly adolescents most susceptible to SAD. In the current study, a brief digital slow breathing intervention was performed on socially anxious young adults, aged 16-24 years, and its effects on HRV was measured during the intervention and, subsequently, a public speaking task. Using a mixed-design ANOVA, the results of the intervention on the experimental group were compared to the HRV of a control group during the respective phases. The two phases were, separately, compared to a baseline phase for both groups. The results indicate that the brief digital slow breathing intervention had a significant effect on HRV, both during the intervention phase itself as well as the public speaking task. This could suggest that brief slow breathing interventions might help individuals at risk of SAD in dealing with stressful tasks.Show less

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Take a deep breath... Effects of slow breathing intervention on subclinical socially anxious adolescents' heart rate variability