A mindfulness program with biofeedback reduced perceived stress and mood disturbances in health care providers but did not change sleep or nocturnal physiology. Sixty-six participants completed eight weekly virtual group sessions and home practice using a mobile app while wearing sleep sensors. No sleep metrics improved; heart rate variability was slightly lower after sessions but not clinically meaningful. Perceived stress dropped from week 3 onward, and mood disturbances improved at several time points. The program helped subjective well-being without measurable physiological change.
A program called Mindfulness in Motion (MIM) improved physiological markers of stress in healthcare providers. Nineteen participants wore heart monitors before and after eight weekly MIM sessions. After sessions, heart rate variability (SDNN) increased from 38.2 to 47.8 ms, low-frequency power rose from 906 to 2375 ms², and respiration rate slowed from 13.9 to 11.9 breaths per minute. Resilience scores also increased from 27.7 to 31.5 over the eight weeks. Some improvements were seen at the start of later sessions, suggesting cumulative benefits. However, changes in frequency-domain heart rate variability metrics suggested slight physiological arousal immediately after sessions, so results should be interpreted cautiously.