Characterizing the Profile of Individuals Who Undergo Flotation-REST: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Taaha Adamji, Eric vanSonnenberg, Kory Johnson
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine March 16, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/15598276261430291 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 61 |
| Population | Adult flotation users recruited from an online community forum and a flotation center in the southwestern United States |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Abstinence Population Psychological intervention Gerontology Physical therapy Demography Environmental health Prospective cohort study |
| Key findings | Flotation users more often reported depression, daily anxiety, and sleep disturbance than the general US population, while showing moderately above-average mindfulness. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Taking the body off the mind: Decreased functional connectivity between somatomotor and default‐mode networks following Floatation‐REST Human Brain Mapping April 9, 2021
- Experience after Floatation-REST: Relaxation during floating mediates the afterglow effect. Consciousness and Cognition April 1, 2025
- A systematic review of flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 3, 2025
- Induction of altered states of consciousness during Floatation-REST is associated with the dissolution of body boundaries and the distortion of subjective time. Scientific Reports April 23, 2024
- Weekly Change in Mindfulness and Perceived Stress in a Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction Program Journal of Clinical Psychology July 1, 2012
and 1 more in the library