The Comparative Effect of Reduced Mindfulness-Based Stress on Heart Rate Variability among Patients with Breast Cancer

Shu-Jung Wang, Yun-Chen Chang, Wen-Yu Hu, Yuh-Ming Chang and Chi Lo
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Shu-Jung Wang: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Ren-Ai Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Yun-Chen Chang: School of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung 40604, Taiwan
Wen-Yu Hu: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Ren-Ai Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Yuh-Ming Chang: Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Chi Lo: Department of Hospitality Management, Chung Hua University, Hsinchu 30012, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a powerful tool for observing interactions between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This study evaluated HRV during a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program among women with breast cancer after receiving treatment. A quasi-experimental, nonrandomized design was used. Patients were allocated to usual care ( n = 25) and MBSR ( n = 25) groups. HRV was measured using recognized methods to assess the autonomic nervous system. Two-way ANOVA and t -tests were used to examine HRV changes between and within groups, respectively. A significant interaction effect of time with group was observed on heart rate (F (1, 96) = 4.92, p = 0.029, η 2 = 0.049). A significant difference was also observed within the MBSR group preintervention and postintervention with regard to heart rate (t (24) = −3.80, p = 0.001), standard deviation of the RR interval (t (24) = 5.40, p < 0.001), root-mean-square difference in the RR interval (t (24) = 2.23, p = 0.035), and high-frequency power (t (24) = 7.73, p < 0.001). Large effect sizes for heart rate and SDNN of 0.94 and 0.85, respectively, were observed between the MBSR and usual care groups. This study provides preliminary evidence that an MBSR program may be clinically useful for facilitating parasympathetic activity associated with feelings of relaxation in treated breast cancer survivors.

Keywords: heart rate variability (HRV); breast cancer; mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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