Utilizing an Arm Wearable Vibroacoustic Therapy Device at Low Frequencies to Reduce Acute Stress

Stress is a universal challenge, with acute stress negatively impacting mental and physical health when encountered too often. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a portable vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) device in reducing acute stress levels in high school students using low-frequency sound vibrations to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. It was hypothesized that the VAT device, programmed to emit 4, 6, and 8 Hz (theta to alpha) vibrations consecutively, would significantly reduce stress levels measured via a smartphone plethysmography application. Fifteen participants aged 16–17, identified as having high academic stress, participated in three conditions: no VAT treatment (control), 60-second VAT treatment, and 120-second VAT treatment. Stress levels were measured before and after each condition. A One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in stress levels across conditions (F(2,28) = 3.40, p = 0.0475) Post hoc Bonferroni-corrected analyses showed trends toward significance for reductions in stress from control to the 60-second (p = 0.06) and 120-second (p = 0.12) treatments, though neither comparison remained statistically significant after correction. Descriptive statistics indicated an approximate 10% mean reduction in stress, with levels decreasing from 81.2% (control) to 73.7% (60 seconds) and 72.1% (120 seconds). These findings suggest that VAT may reduce acute stress. Variability in responses, VAT device limitations, and a limited frequency range highlight the need for further research to optimize this technology. This study demonstrates the potential of portable VAT as an accessible, non-invasive intervention for stress management.