Treating Chronic Stress to Address the Growing Problem of Depression and Anxiety: Biofeedback and Mindfulness as Simple, Effective Preventive Measures
Abstract
Depression and anxiety are undertreated and represent a growing health crisis and economic burden. Current treatment approaches (medications, psychotherapy) appear insufficient to resolve these problems. Difficulties with current treatment approaches include cost, side effects, and stigma. Given that depression and anxiety share significant features and a common etiology in chronic stress, an effective approach to reduce depression and anxiety may be to reduce chronic stress. Chronic stress is on the rise, with more than one third of Americans reporting high levels of stress with which they feel they cannot adequately cope. Treating chronic stress at the population level has the potential to reduce the rising tide of depression and anxiety. Biofeedback and mindfulness are two interventions that demonstrably reduce stress and negative mood, are cost and time-effective, have no side effects, and have minimal stigma relative to medications and psychotherapy.
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Through mindfulness-based interventions, changes can occur regarding emotion regulation, attention control, acceptance, self-referential processing, positive reappraisal, and self-awareness, which may interrupt the pathway from stigma and stress to mental illness.
“Through mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), changes can occur regarding emotion regulation, attention control, acceptance, self-referential processing, positive reappraisal, and self-awareness, which may interrupt the pathway from stigma and stress to mental illness.16,20–22”
From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [22]
Past research shows that mindfulness can reduce rumination and worry related to difficult experiences and emotions, which can increase vulnerability to depression and anxiety, and increase cognitive and emotional flexibility, improving emotional reactivity and behavioral regulation.
“Past research shows that mindfulness can reduce rumination and worry related to difficult experiences and emotions, which can increase vulnerability to depression and anxiety, and increase cognitive and emotional flexibility, improving emotional reactivity and behavioral regulation.22,37–39”
From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [22]
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- Authors
- Steffen, P. R., Austin, T., & DeBarros, A.
- Affiliations
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Steffen, Patrick R.
- Venue
- Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-12-28
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 64-70
- ISSN
- 2372-7322 (ISSN-L)
- 2372-7330
- OpenAlex
- W2588250705
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 1.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- chronic stress, depression, anxiety, stress reduction intervention, biofeedback, mindfulness, barriers to treatment, stigma, cost-effectiveness, economic burden of mental illness
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