Biofeedback As Prevention for Distress Within Traditional Undergraduate College Students: A Single-Case Research Study
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
Department
Counseling
Date of Award
5-22-2024
Abstract
Post-pandemic, data show college-aged students are uniquely vulnerable to mental illness symptoms, yet rises in demand make mental healthcare services more difficult to access. The purpose for this study was to examine the effectiveness of preventative methods to alleviate current and future distress among traditional undergraduate college students, leveraging a multiple baseline single-case research design. In this study, 3 undergraduate students aged 18 or 19 participated in 9 brief data collection sessions (3 per week) where participants completed the Subjective Units of Distress scale, the Kessler Distress Inventory, and a 2-minute session with the EmWave Pro Plus heart rate monitor. The first three sessions established a baseline to which the researcher compared data from the next three sessions (treatment phase) and the last three sessions (withdrawal phase). The treatment was HeartMath’s attitude breathing technique to improve heart rate variability and establish cardiac coherence. This researcher visually analyzed the data points across the three phases of data collection (baseline, treatment, withdrawal) and calculated the points exceeding the median to determine the efficacy of attitude breathing as a self-administered treatment for distress. Results showed the treatment is debatably effective, but limitations of the study may have reduced the effectiveness of the treatment. Further research is necessary to address the effectiveness of treatments individuals can administer themselves to cope with distress. Keywords: Heart Rate Variability, distress, coherence, single-case research design, traditional undergraduate students
Advisor
Zaidy MohdZain
Subject Categories
Counseling Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Sladky, Laura, "Biofeedback As Prevention for Distress Within Traditional Undergraduate College Students: A Single-Case Research Study" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1159.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/1159
