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Experts create a breathing pillow that can ease test anxiety in students... and it's just as good as meditating!

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Scientists at the University of Bristol asked people to hug the pillow before a test The results showed they were less anxious than people who did nothing Scientists said the pillow's calming effect could help anxiety sufferers A cuddly "breathing" pillow could ease students' anxiety before exams, researchers say. Tests of the pillow, which self-deflates and inflates to simulate breathing, have shown it to be just as effective as meditation. Anxiety rates among volunteers who were allowed to snuggle in the pillow before a math test were significantly lower than among those who were asked not to...

Wissenschaftler der University of Bristol baten die Leute, das Kissen vor einem Test zu umarmen Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass sie weniger Angst hatten als Menschen, die nichts taten Wissenschaftler sagten, dass die beruhigende Wirkung des Kissens Angstpatienten helfen könnte Ein anschmiegsames „atmendes“ Kissen könnte die Angst der Schüler vor den Prüfungen lindern, sagen Forscher. Tests des Kissens, das sich selbst entleert und aufbläst, um das Atmen zu simulieren, haben gezeigt, dass es genauso effektiv ist wie Meditation. Die Angstquoten bei Freiwilligen, die vor einem Mathetest in das Kissen kuscheln durften, waren signifikant niedriger als bei denen, die gebeten wurden, nichts …
Scientists at the University of Bristol asked people to hug the pillow before a test The results showed they were less anxious than people who did nothing Scientists said the pillow's calming effect could help anxiety sufferers A cuddly "breathing" pillow could ease students' anxiety before exams, researchers say. Tests of the pillow, which self-deflates and inflates to simulate breathing, have shown it to be just as effective as meditation. Anxiety rates among volunteers who were allowed to snuggle in the pillow before a math test were significantly lower than among those who were asked not to...
  • Wissenschaftler der University of Bristol baten die Leute, das Kissen vor einem Test zu umarmen
  • Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass sie weniger Angst hatten als Menschen, die nichts taten
  • Wissenschaftler sagten, dass die beruhigende Wirkung des Kissens Angstpatienten helfen könnte

A snug "breathing" pillow could ease students' exam anxiety, researchers say.

Tests of the pillow, which self-deflates and inflates to simulate breathing, have shown it to be just as effective as meditation.

Anxiety rates among volunteers who were allowed to snuggle in the pillow before a math test were significantly lower than among those who were asked to do nothing.

Researchers at the University of Bristol say the device could ease stress-related anxiety.

They believe the hot water bottle-sized pillow is comforting because it can help slow breathing and feels like being cuddled by a "living creature."

Wissenschaftler der University of Bristol baten die Teilnehmer, ein „atmendes“ Kissen zu umarmen, bevor sie einen verbalen Mathematiktest machten. Sie fanden heraus, dass die Gruppe, die das Kissen umarmte, vor dem Test ein geringeres Angstniveau hatte als eine separate Gruppe, die nichts tat

Scientists at the University of Bristol asked participants to hug a "breathing" pillow before taking a verbal maths test. They found that the group that hugged the pillow had lower anxiety levels before the test than a separate group that did nothing

Wissenschaftler sagten, dass das Kissen eine beruhigende Wirkung haben könnte, weil seine Atmung variiert werden könnte, um es eher wie ein „Lebewesen“ zu machen.

Oben abgebildet ist eine Frau, die das Kissen umarmt

Scientists said the pillow (pictured) could have a calming effect because its breathing could be varied to make it more like a "living creature."

Oben abgebildet sind die Angstzustände in der Gruppe, die das Kissen umarmt (blau), meditiert (gelb) und nichts getan hat (rot), von der Ankunft im Zentrum (T1), acht Minuten nach dem Umarmen des Kissens und vor dem Test (T2 ), nach dem Test (T3) und acht Minuten nach Abschluss des Tests (T4)

Pictured above are the anxiety levels in the pillow hugging (blue), meditating (yellow) and doing nothing (red) group from arrival at the center (T1), eight minutes after hugging the pillow and before the test (T2), after the test (T3) and eight minutes after completing the test (T4).

Early prototypes of the gadget simulated other sensations such as purring and a heartbeat.

However, participants felt the greatest benefits came from the “breathing” pillow, which had to be plugged into a power outlet.

What is fear? Who is most likely to suffer from this?

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in the world, affecting an estimated 284 million people.

It is triggered in response to a perceived stress or danger and causes an increased heart rate and rapid, shallow breathing.

These triggers are most likely to include financial worries, conflicts or even exams.

Studies suggest that women are almost twice as likely to experience anxiety as men.

It is also thought to be more common in younger adults, with one study finding that half of students surveyed had moderate stress-related health problems, including conditions such as anxiety.

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Alice Haynes, a robotics researcher at the University of Bristol, and colleagues tested the device on 129 volunteers aged between 18 and 36.

Participants were told they had a verbal math test and were given only eight minutes to prepare.

They were divided into three equal groups and asked to sit in a room and either do nothing, meditate, or hug the breathing pillow.

Before the test, a questionnaire was administered to check their anxiety levels.

It turns out they actually decreased in the calming pillows (from an anxiety score of 38 to 32) and meditation groups (from 38 to 33), but increased in the control group (from 38 to 39).

The control group had the highest stress levels, well above the others.

But people who practiced meditation and hugged the pillow had “indistinguishable” levels of stress.

Ms Haynes told MailOnline: 'We believe that by promoting a slower breathing rate this may be the main mechanism by which the pillow reduces anxiety.

“Research has shown that slower breathing rates impact our nervous system and reduce signs of stress or anxiety.

"This is often used in meditation, but the cushion offers a similar effect in a format that is intuitive and effortless to use."

In the paper, the scientists add that the pillow was likely soothing because its breathing rate could be varied, making it more like another person.

They added that its mechanics ensured it “more accurately replicates the mechanics of real breathing” compared to other motorized devices that produce a purring sound.

Scientists say they are still in the "early stages" of the pillow design and that it won't be commercially available any time soon.

In a separate study, they examined using the pillow to help couples who spend long periods of time apart feel closer together.

Both couple members were asked to hug the pillows at the same time, which then synchronized so they could feel each other's breathing.

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem worldwide, studies show, affecting 8 million people in the UK and 40 million in the US.

Women and young adults are most likely to be diagnosed with the condition.

It is often triggered in response to a perceived stress or danger and causes an increased heart rate and rapid, shallow breathing. These triggers can be financial worries, conflicts or even exams.

But for some people, there is no known cause and they are plagued by a constant and irrational feeling of fear.

However, treatments are typically expensive, requiring at least six therapy sessions and waiting lists that stretch for months.

The study was published in the journal Plus one.

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Source: Dailymail UK

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