Automotive Health: Cardiopulmonary effects of Mindfulness Interventions while Driving

Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, vol. 115, pp. 103324

Abstract

Background Mindfulness interventions, used to enhance attentional and emotional regulation in clinical settings, may benefit individuals in everyday stressful situations like driving. However, their real-world applicability and objective effectiveness in improving physiological mindfulness-associated measures need further study. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of in-drive mindfulness interventions on mean breathing rate ( Mean BR ), mean heart rate ( Mean HR ), and the heart rate variability metric of root mean square of successive RR interval differences ( RMSSD ) throughout various environments. Methods Eighteen participants performed mindfulness exercises while driving in rural, suburban, and urban environments under naturalistic conditions on public roads. Mean HR , Mean BR , and RMSSD were monitored and compared between control and intervention drives whilst adjusting for breath-altering instructions. Correlational analysis between Mean BR and RMSSD was conducted to investigate respiratory sinus arrhythmia influences. Results In rural environments (n = 14), statistically significant decreases in Mean HR , Mean BR , and increases in RMSSD were observed during intervention drives compared to control drives. In suburban environments (n = 15), statistically significant decreases in Mean BR and increases in RMSSD were found. No significant differences were observed in urban environments (n = 11). Correlations between Mean BR and RMSSD were found only during control drives in rural and suburban environments. No correlations were found in urban environments. Conclusions Mindfulness interventions improved physiological parameters during rural and suburban drives but were ineffective during urban drives. The decorrelation of Mean BR and RMSSD suggests effectiveness beyond mere breathing adjustments influence on RMSSD , indicating parasympathetic dominance during effective interventions. High mental load or stress may cause similar decoupling in urban drives.

Authors 4

1. Lukas Nikolaus Ullmann corresponding Aachen Faculty of Medicine Department of Anaesthesiology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH, Vaalser Straße 460, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Carsten Starke

   Ford (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Ford-Werke GmbH, Ford Motor Company, Henry-Ford-Straße 1, 50735 Köln, Germany

3. Michael Czaplik Aachen Faculty of Medicine Department of Anaesthesiology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH, Vaalser Straße 460, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Carina Barbosa Pereira Aachen Faculty of Medicine Department of Anaesthesiology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH, Vaalser Straße 460, 52074 Aachen, Germany