Cited by 8Sport Psychology and PerformanceHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Pulling the Trigger: The Effect of a 5-Minute Slow Diaphragmatic Breathing Intervention on Psychophysiological Stress Responses and Pressurized Pistol Shooting Performance

Open access
Conlon, Aodhagán, Arnold, Rachel, Preatoni, Ezio, Moore, Lee J.·2022·Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology

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.

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Crossref · 10.1123/jsep.2021-0213

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  • The other regular-paced intervention was effective, possibly due to human-guided training and its 12 bpm pace.

    “The other was effective, possibly due to human-guided training and its 12 bpm pace, which may have been slow enough to engender benefits [78].”

    From Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review of the Published Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [78]

    The Paced breathing intervention section says an investigator trained participants at 12 breaths per minute, and the Discussion says paced breathing benefited psychological stress responses. The paper does not identify human-guided training or the 12-breath pace as the reason for those benefits; that explanation remains the citing authors’ speculation. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Conlon, A., Arnold, R., Preatoni, E., Payne, K.L., McEwan, D., & Moore, L.J. (2021). The effects of breathing techniques on pressurized performance and stress-responses: A systematic review (under review).

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Authors
Conlon, A., Arnold, R., Preatoni, E., & Moore, L. J.
Affiliations
University of Bath (GB)
Venue
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
Published
2022-06-01
Volume
44
Issue
3
Pages
206-219
ISSN
  • 0895-2779 (ISSN-L)
  • 1543-2904
OpenAlex
W4224943468
Cited by
8
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1
FWCI
2.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure (University of Bath) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
paced breathing, psychophysiological stress response, cognitive anxiety, heart rate, pistol shooting, performance under pressure, stress reduction
MeSH terms
Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Stress, Psychological

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