JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Smartphones are often vilified for negatively influencing well-being and contributing to stress. However, these devices may in fact be useful in times of stress, and in particular aid in stress recovery. Mobile applications that deliver evidence-based techniques for stress reduction, such as heart rate variability biofeedback training, hold promise for being utilized as convenient, accessible, and effective stress-buffering tools. There are numerous mobile health applications available that may potentially aid in stress recovery, but very few have demonstrated that they can influence health-relevant physiological stress parameters (e.g., salivary biomarkers of stress). Reducing physiological stress following an acute stressor is particularly important for long-term health, and thus, it is imperative that empirical physiological evidence is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of stress-reducing mobile health applications.

Objective:

The purpose of this research was to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of utilizing a guided smartphone application for heart rate variability biofeedback training following a stressful experience. The efficacy of the Breather component of the Happify mobile health application was examined in an experimental setting.

Methods:

In the current study, participants (N=140) underwent a social-evaluative laboratory stressor and were randomly assigned to recover in one of three ways. Those in the no phone condition had no access to their phone. Those in the phone present condition had their phone in their presence but did not use it. Those in the guided phone use condition used the Happify Breather application. Stress recovery was assessed via repeated measures of salivary alpha amylase, cortisol and self-reported stress.

Results:

Participants in the guided phone use condition had significantly lower levels of salivary alpha amylase during recovery than participants in the other conditions, F(2,133)=3.78, p=.03. There were no significant differences between conditions during recovery for salivary cortisol or self-reported stress.

Conclusions:

These results show that engaging in a brief heart rate variability biofeedback training session on a smartphone reduces levels of salivary alpha amylase following stress. This study provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of Happify Breather for aiding in physiological stress recovery. Gamified mobile health apps, such as Happify Breather, that positively influence physiological stress recovery hold great potential for mitigating the negative effects of stress and ultimately benefiting health.