Practice effects of a breathing technique on pilots’ cognitive and stress associated heart rate variability during flight operations

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorZhang, Jingyi
dc.contributor.authorLi, Wen-Chin
dc.contributor.authorBraithwaite, Graham
dc.contributor.authorBlundell, James
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-20T13:47:23Z
dc.date.available2024-06-20T13:47:23Z
dc.date.issued2024-06-10
dc.description.abstractCommercial pilots endure multiple stressors in their daily and occupational lives which are detrimental to psychological well-being and cognitive functioning. The Quick coherence technique (QCT) is an effective intervention tool to improve stress resilience and psychophysiological balance based on a five-minute paced breathing exercise with heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback. The current research reports on the application of QCT training within an international airline to improve commercial pilots’ psychological health and support cognitive functions. Forty-four commercial pilots volunteered in a one-month training programme to practise self-regulated QCT in day-to-day life and flight operations. Pilots’ stress index, HRV time-domain and frequency-domain parameters were collected to examine the influence of QCT practice on the stress resilience process. The results demonstrated that the QCT improved psychophysiological indicators associated with stress resilience and cognitive functions, in both day-to-day life and flight operation settings. HRV fluctuations, as measured through changes in RMSSD and LF/HF, revealed that the resilience processes were primarily controlled by the sympathetic nervous system activities that are important in promoting pilots’ energy mobilization and cognitive functions, thus QCT has huge potential in facilitating flight performance and aviation safety. These findings provide scientific evidence for implementing QCT as an effective mental support programme and controlled rest strategy to improve pilots’ psychological health, stress management, and operational performance.en_UK
dc.description.sponsorshipThe corresponding author of this research was supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF 2021-2022).en_UK
dc.identifier.citationZhang J, Li W-C, Braithwaite G, Blundell J. (2024) Practice effects of a breathing technique on pilots’ cognitive and stress associated heart rate variability during flight operations. Stress, Volume 27, Issue 1, December 2024, Article number 2361253en_UK
dc.identifier.eissn1607-8888
dc.identifier.issn1025-3890
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2024.2361253
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/22539
dc.language.isoen_UKen_UK
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectStress Resilienceen_UK
dc.subjectPsychophysiological Interventionen_UK
dc.subjectHeart Rate Variabilityen_UK
dc.subjectQuick Coherence Techniqueen_UK
dc.subjectAviation Safety Managementen_UK
dc.titlePractice effects of a breathing technique on pilots’ cognitive and stress associated heart rate variability during flight operationsen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-05-22

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Heart_rate_variability_during_flight_operations-2024.pdf
Size:
687.33 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.63 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Staff publications (SATM)