Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) as a stress-management tool: A meta-analysis
Authors:
Dirk van Dierendonck a;
Jan Te Nijenhuis b
| Affiliations: | a Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| b Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University, The Netherlands |
DOI:
10.1080/08870440412331337093
Publication Frequency:
10 issues per year
Subjects:
Allied Health;
Behavioral Medicine;
Health & Illness;
Health Psychology;
Medical Sociology;
Number of References: 39
Formats available:
HTML
(English)
:
PDF
(English)
View Article:
View Article (PDF)
View Article (HTML)
Abstract
In this study we investigated the value of flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) as a stress-management tool. We focused on the physiological effects of REST, its influence on well-being, and on performance. Twenty-seven studies published in 25 articles or book chapters were included in a meta-analysis. The total number of participants was 449, with a mean age of 29 years (ranging between 20 and 45). Sixty-four percent was male and 36% was female. The results showed that REST has positive effects on physiology (e.g., lower levels of cortisol, lower blood pressure), well-being, and performance. The pre-post mean effect size and the overall randomized control group effect size were relatively strong. This suggests that despite some limitations of the original studies, flotation REST can be a useful stress management tool in addition to or instead of other stress management tools.
|
| Keywords: Flotation REST; stress management; well-being |
| view references (39) |

Download Citation


CiteULike
Del.icio.us
BibSonomy
Connotea