Pulling the trigger: The effect of a five-minute slow diaphragmatic breathing intervention on psychophysiological stress responses and pressurized pistol shooting performance

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Abstract

This study examined the effect of slow diaphragmatic breathing on psychophysiological stress responses and pressurized performance. Sixty-seven participants (40 female; Mage = 20.17 ± 2.77 years) were randomly assigned to either a diaphragmatic-breathing, paced-breathing, or control group. Participants completed a nonpressurized shooting task and then received instructions about a pressurized version. Next, the diaphragmatic group was told to breathe at 6 breaths/min, the paced group at 12 breaths/min, and the control group received no instructions. Following a 5-min intervention period, participants completed the pressurized task while performance was assessed. Psychophysiological stress responses (e.g., cognitive anxiety, heart rate) were recorded throughout. Results revealed that diaphragmatic breathing had mixed effects on stress responses, with some unaffected (e.g., heart rate) and others reduced (e.g., cognitive anxiety), and little effect on performance. Findings suggested that slow diaphragmatic breathing might not aid pressurized performance but could benefit psychological stress responses.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-219
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Volume44
Issue number3
Early online date25 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Keywords

  • heart-rate variability
  • motor skill
  • psychological pressure
  • state anxiety

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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