Characterizing the Profile of Individuals Who Undergo Flotation-REST: A Cross-Sectional Survey

People who use flotation REST (lying in a warm saltwater tank) tend to be physically active and report moderately above-average mindfulness, yet also more often report depression, daily anxiety, sleep disturbance, and muscle soreness compared with the general US population. Alcohol abstinence rates did not differ. The findings come from a cross-sectional survey of 61 adult flotation users recruited online and from a flotation center in the southwestern US. Because the study lacked pre-floating baseline measures, these differences reflect current status, not changes caused by flotation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Flotation, a form of restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST), entails lying in a warm saltwater tank. Evidence links it to lower stress and improved mood, but user characteristics outside trials remain unclear. We profiled flotation users and compared health and lifestyle measures with a population benchmark. Adults were recruited from an online community forum and a flotation center in the southwestern United States. The survey included the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15) and standardized items from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Users were grouped by duration and frequency, and selected outcomes were compared with NHANES. Sixty-one users participated. Over half were long-term and monthly users. Mindfulness scores were moderately above average. Compared with NHANES, users more often reported depression, daily anxiety, and sleep disturbance, and reported more moderate-intensity exercise and muscle soreness. Rates of alcohol abstinence did not differ. In this real-world sample, flotation users were physically active and frequently reported anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, while showing moderately above average mindfulness. Because this was a cross-sectional survey without pre-floating baselines, differences from NHANES reflect current status rather than changes due to flotation. We plan prospective pre-/post-studies with larger, more diverse samples.