Assessing impact of chamber restricted environmental stimulation therapy on stress and sleep quality among university students: an intervention study.

Summary

A single three-hour session of Chamber REST (restricted environmental stimulation therapy) reduced perceived stress and information overload, and increased mindfulness, in university students. Among 237 students, 176 completed the session while 61 served as controls; after matching, 120 experimental and 60 control participants were analyzed. At one-week follow-up, the experimental group showed significant reductions in perceived stress (d = 0.384) and information overload (d = 0.464), and a significant increase in mindfulness (d = 0.274), with no significant changes in sleep quality or rumination. The therapy was more effective for those with higher intermittent stress and lower sleep quality.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Optimal stress management and maintaining a good quality of sleep are essential parts of healthy physical and psychological flourishing. Especially young adult university students have shown vulnerability to stress related outcomes and sleep quality disturbances, due to various factors associated with personal life events, academic stress, self-responsibilities, etc. A novel method for mental health management, called Restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST), has shown preliminary results confirming its beneficial effects. Therefore, in our study, we focused on examining the effectiveness of Chamber REST variant, as a method for optimizing the stress response and sleep quality in the sample of university students. Recruited sample of 237 university students were included in the final analysis. Single brief (3-hour) Chamber REST session was completed by 176 participants, while 61 were part of the control group. Matching procedure was performed to equate experimental and control groups, with a 2:1 ratio (experimental = 120, control = 60). The research protocol evaluated the level of perceived stress (PSS), sleep quality (VAS), information overload (VAS), rumination (RRQ) and mindfulness (MAAS) at Week prior to treatment and at 1-week follow-up. Based on Repeated Measures ANOVA, we found that in the experimental group there was a significant reduction (from Week prior to Week post) in perceived stress [p <.001, d = 0.384], information overload [p <.001, d = 0.464], and a significant increase in mindfulness [p =.002, d = 0.274], with non-significant changes in sleep quality and rumination, compared to the control group. Latent cluster analysis of stress severity subgroups and sleep quality subcategories revealed, that Chamber REST was more effective for subclinical population affected by higher intermittent stress and lower sleep quality. We interpreted the results in accordance with The Systematic Self-Reflection model and Self-Reflection and Coping Insight Framework, which proposes that adaptive self-reflection and coping-insights are crucial for attaining psychologically resilient outcomes. Chamber REST therefore seems to be a suitable method for improving stress management, regeneration and self-regulation of sleep, with preventive potential that could benefit future mental health.