简短共振频率呼吸干预对研究生心率变异性与知觉压力的影响：一项先导性与可行性研究

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol.

Sec. Health Psychology

• The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Stress in postgraduate education can undermine well-being, academic performance, and physiological regulation. Resonance frequency breathing (RFB) is a slow-paced breathing technique shown to enhance autonomic regulation, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV); however, many validated protocols are time-intensive, limiting real-world implementation. This pilot study evaluated the effects and feasibility of a brief, app-guided RFB intervention delivered during an academically demanding period. Twelve postgraduate students were randomly assigned to an RFB intervention group (n = 6) or a no-intervention control group (n = 6). The intervention group completed daily 10-minute breathing sessions for three weeks at their individually determined resonance frequency. HRV indices—the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)—and perceived stress (PSS-10) were assessed weekly. Relative to controls, the RFB group demonstrated improvements in HRV, with SDNN increasing at Weeks 2 and 3 (p = .010–.026, d = 1.84–2.06) and RMSSD at Week 3 (p = .026, d = 1.45). Reductions in perceived stress did not reach statistical significance; however, by Week 3 the intervention group showed a mean decrease of 6.00 points compared to a 4.50-point increase in controls (d = −1.04, p = .101). Qualitative findings supported feasibility and acceptability, with participants reporting perceived benefits in emotion regulation and stress coping, and intentions to continue practice beyond the study period. These results suggest that a brief, app-guided RFB intervention may be sufficient to elicit measurable autonomic changes during phases of heightened demand. Conclusions are limited by the small sample size and short duration. Larger trials with follow-up are necessary to establish efficacy and examine long-term effects.

Keywords

autonomic regulation, Heart rate variability, Hrv biofeedback, perceived stress, Pilot and feasibility study, postgraduate students, resonance frequency breathing

Received

14 January 2026

Accepted

12 May 2026

Copyright

© 2026 Spizzirri and Buchanan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence:

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