Effects of a brief resonance frequency breathing intervention on heart rate variability and perceived stress in postgraduate students: a pilot and feasibility study.

Introduction: Stress during postgraduate education can undermine well-being, academic performance, and physiological regulation. Resonance frequency breathing (RFB) is a slow-paced breathing technique associated with enhanced autonomic regulation, as indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). However, validated protocols are often time-intensive, limiting real-world implementation. This pilot study evaluated the preliminary effects, feasibility, and acceptability of a brief, app-guided RFB intervention during an academically demanding period. Methods: Twelve postgraduate students were randomly assigned to an RFB intervention group ( Results: Between-group comparisons of change scores showed significant differences for SDNN at Weeks 2 ( Discussion: In this pilot sample, the brief RFB protocol was feasible and acceptable and was associated with increases in resting HRV relative to controls during heightened academic demand. The study did not demonstrate a significant between-group difference in perceived stress. Given the small sample, short duration, and absence of an active control, the findings are preliminary. Larger controlled trials with follow-up assessments are needed to evaluate efficacy, durability, and real-world implementation.