SEARCHRCTpsychiatry, internal medicine

RCT·psychiatry, internal medicine, clinical trial, pulmonology, public health·PMC10518325

Slower respiration rate is associated with higher self-reported well-being after wellness training

Scientific Reports · 10 authors, 6 centres

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TL;DR

This randomized controlled trial found that slower respiration rate was associated with higher self-reported well-being after wellness training, and larger reductions in respiration rate correlated with larger improvements in medical symptoms.

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This randomized controlled trial investigated respiration rate (RR) as a biomarker for self-reported well-being in the context of wellness training. The central finding was that slower RR was associated with better self-reported well-being in both novice groups after training and in long-term meditators. Additionally, a larger reduction in RR from pre- to post-training was correlated with a larger improvement in medical symptoms across all participants. Short-term MBSR training reduced RR relative to the waitlist, but this group difference was not maintained at long-term follow-up. Exploratory analyses indicated that higher heart rate variability (HRV) was strongly associated with all measures of well-being, while heart rate showed no significant associations. The study was limited by a lack of population diversity, the use of physiological data collected during an MRI (not a real-world setting), and the inclusion of participants with asthma which influenced some results.

STUDY TYPE

RCT

SPECIALTY

psychiatry

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AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10518325

Slower respiration rate is associated with higher self-reported well-being after wellness training

Scientific Reports

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Mind–body interventions such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may improve well-being by increasing awareness and regulation of physiological and cognitive states. However, it is unclear how practice may alter long-term, baseline physiological processes, and whether these changes reflect improved well-being. Using respiration rate (RR), which can be sensitive to effects of meditation, and 3 aspects of self-reported well-being (psychological well-being [PWB], distress, and medical symptoms), we tested pre-registered hypotheses that: (1) Lower baseline RR (in a resting, non-meditative state) would be a physiological marker associated with well-being, (2) MBSR would decrease RR, and (3) Training-related decreases in RR would be associated with improved well-being. We recruited 245 adults (age range = 18–65, M = 42.4): experienced meditators ( n = 42), and meditation-naïve participants randomized to MBSR ( n = 72), active control ( n = 41), or waitlist control ( n = 66). Data were collected at pre-randomization, post-intervention (or waiting), and long-term follow-up. Lower baseline RR was associated with lower psychological distress among long-term meditators ( p * = 0.03, b = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]), though not in non-meditators prior to training. MBSR decreased RR compared to waitlist ( p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = − 0.41, 95% CI [− 0.78, − 0.06]), but not the active control. Decreased RR related to decreased medical symptoms, across all participants ( p * = 0.02, b = 0.57, 95% CI [0.15, 0.98]). Post-training, lower RR was associated with higher PWB across training groups compared to waitlist ( p * = 0.01, b = 0.06, 95% CI [0.02, 0.10]), though there were no significant differences in change in PWB between groups. This physiological marker may indicate higher physical and/or psychological well-being in those who engage in wellness practices. Subject terms: Respiration, Human behaviour

CITATION EXPORT

Tammi R A Kral, Helen Y Weng, Vikramjit Mitra et al.. Slower respiration rate is associated with higher self-reported well-being after wellness training. Scientific Reports. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43176-w

AUTHORS

10 · 6 CENTRES

Tammi R A Kral, Helen Y Weng, Vikramjit Mitra, Theodore P Imhoff-Smith, Erdrin Azemi, Robin I Goldman, Melissa A Rosenkranz, Sarah Wu, Andrew Chen, Richard J Davidson

1Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc., Madison, WI USA
2Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI USA
3Apple, Cupertino, CA USA
4Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI USA
5Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI USA
6Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI USA