Emotional Self-Regulation in Primary Education: A Heart Rate-Variability Biofeedback Intervention Programme

Aitor Aritzeta, Ainara Aranberri-Ruiz, Goretti Soroa, Rosa Mindeguia and Amaiur Olarza
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Aitor Aritzeta: Department of Basic Psychological Process and Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
Ainara Aranberri-Ruiz: Department of Basic Psychological Process and Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
Goretti Soroa: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
Rosa Mindeguia: Department of Basic Psychological Process and Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
Amaiur Olarza: Department of Basic Psychological Process and Development, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: This study investigated the benefits of using a biofeedback intervention programme to train children in controlling their heart rate variability (HRV) through slow-paced breathing in real time. HRV biofeedback interventions focused on showing subjects to breathe such that their HRV numbers rise, improving their self-regulation. The HRV biofeedback intervention, focused on breathing, was conducted with primary education students aged between 7 and 11 years. The programme consisted of five biofeedback sessions, where students were taught to breathe six long and slow pairs of breaths per minute, to increase their HRV. After participation in the programme, students, regardless of gender, increased their HRV in a statistically significant fashion with a large effect, but this effect was not the same for all ages. HRV biofeedback interventions are rarely applied in schools and given the effectiveness of the intervention to improve HRV in children, the applied implications of our results in educational settings are discussed, especially taking into account the children’s ages.

Keywords: biofeedback intervention; heart rate variability; children; polyvagal theory; HeartMath emWave software (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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