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A key component of stress management and biofeedback training is the use of relaxation exercises, such as slow/deep breathing (6 breaths/minute) in heart coherence exercises (HCEs). Breathing exercises are also increasingly being integrated into smartphones as part of health apps, though their effectiveness in adolescents after acute stress has rarely been validated scientifically. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of an app-guided HCE (n = 36) after an acute stress situation (Trier Social Stress Test) compared with natural relaxation (n = 37), among healthy adolescents (aged 11-17 years). Endocrine, autonomic, and psychological stress parameters (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate, heart rate variability, mood) were examined in 73 adolescents (46 female, 27 male; M
Schleicher et al. (Fri,) studied this question.