Incorporating biofeedback into the Mindfulness in Motion Intervention for health care professionals: Impact on sleep and stress.
Justin J Merrigan, Maryanna Klatt, Catherine Quatman-Yates, Angela Emerson, Jamie Kronenberg, Morgan Orr, Jacqueline Caputo, Kayla Daniel, Riley Summers, Yulia Mulugeta, Beth Steinberg, Joshua A Hagen
Explore 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103022 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 66 |
| Population | Health care providers |
| Intervention | Mindfulness in Motion (MIM) intervention |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Breathwork Meditation |
| Keywords | Breathing techniques First responders Mental health |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | The Mindfulness in Motion intervention reduced perceived stress and mood disturbances but did not alter sleep or nocturnal physiology. |
Abstract
Health care providers (HCP) experience high stress and burnout rates. Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBI) with biofeedback may help improve resiliency but require further research. Aims were to evaluate changes in sleep patterns, nocturnal physiology, stress, mood disturbances, and perceived experience with biofeedback during the Mindfulness in Motion (MIM) intervention. Data from 66 HCP were included after removing those below 75 % compliance with wearable sensors and wellness surveys. Participants were enrolled in MIM, including eight weekly one-hour virtually delivered synchronous group meetings and ∼10 min of mindfulness home practice at least 3 times per week using a mobile application. Participants wore wearable sensors to monitor sleep and nocturnal physiology and completed short daily stress and mood disturbances. According to mixed effect models, no sleep nor physiological metrics changed across MIM (p > 0.05). More time was spent in bed after MIM sessions (8.33±1.03 h) compared to night before (8.05±0.93 h; p = 0.040). Heart rate variability was lower nights after MIM (33.00±15.59 ms) compared to nights before (34.50±17.04 ms; p = 0.004) but was not clinically meaningful (effect= 0.033). Significant reductions were noted in perceived stress at weeks 3 through 8 compared to Baseline and lower Total Mood Disturbance at weeks 3, 5, 6, and 8 compared to Baseline (p < 0.001). Participating in the MIM with mobile applications and wearable sensors reduced perceived stress and mood disturbances but did not induce physiological changes. Additional research is warranted to further evaluate objective physiological outcomes while controlling for confounding variables (e.g., alcohol, medications).
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Enhancing Physiological Complexity Through Mindfulness: A Wearable-Based Intervention for First Responders and Their Partners. Healthcare June 1, 2026
- Preliminary feasibility of mindfulness in motion to improve physiological biomarkers of wellbeing in healthcare providers during dayshift hours Discover Public Health May 25, 2025
Cites 13
- Quantitative change of EEG and respiration signals during mindfulness meditation Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation May 14, 2014
- Sustained Impact of MBSR on Stress, Well-Being, and Daily Spiritual Experiences for 1 Year in Academic Health Care Employees The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 1, 2011
- Should Mindfulness for Health Care Workers Go Virtual? A Mindfulness-Based Intervention Using Virtual Reality and Heart Rate Variability in the Emergency Department. Workplace Health & Safety April 2023
- Assessment of Virtual Mindfulness-Based Training for Health Care Professionals: Improved Self-Reported Respiration Rates, Perceived Stress, and Resilience. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2023
- Effect of 4-day Online Breath Meditation Workshop on Ballistocardiography-based Sleep and Cardiac Health Assessments among Medical Professionals of a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India during COVID-19. Journal of the Association of Physicians of India September 1, 2022
and 8 more in the library