Researchers have designed a soft, cuddly and breathable pillow that can be an important aid for people who are (temporarily) anxious.

Unfortunately, anxiety disorders among young people are becoming more common. 1 in 11 young adults (aged 18 to 34) in the Netherlands is at high risk of an anxiety disorder or depression. Treatments for anxiety disorders often include therapy and medications. But perhaps a newly developed device can also help. Researchers have created a breathing pillow—yes, really—that appears to relieve anxiety.

Breathing pillow

The idea that touch-based devices may have anxiety-reducing properties is gaining ground. As part of this, in a new study, researchers developed several prototypes, each mimicking a different sensation, including breathing, spinning and a heartbeat. Each prototype was shaped like a soft, cuddly pillow. The researchers tested each prototype under focus groups, which found that – while it may sound a bit creepy – the ‘breathing’ pillow was found to be the most pleasant and calming.

Experiment

The researchers decided to further develop this pillow – which consists of a fairly everyday pillow with a built-in device that simulates breathing – into a larger one. The question then arose as to whether it could possibly help reduce anxiety.

The respective breathing pillow. Image: PLOS ONE

The researchers recruited 129 volunteers for the experiment. On the eve of an important math test, some were handed the breathing pillow. Using questionnaires completed by the participants before and after the test, the researchers tried to find out whether the students who had been given the pillow had benefited from it.

Anxiety Relieving

That indeed turns out to be the case. The students who had held the pillow before the test appeared to feel less anxious than classmates without the pillow. It means that cuddling with a pillow that “breathes” can apparently help reduce anxiety or stress. It is even as effective as a meditation practice, points out the study from. “We were pleased that the kissing had a similar effect to meditation,” the researchers wrote.

Wider audience

The results are promising. For example, the pillow could potentially be an important aid for anxious students who have to take exams. But the potential may extend beyond that. The researchers hope that the pillow will also become accessible to a wider audience and can be useful for several people who experience (temporary) anxiety.

The team plans to further refine the pillow, as well as testing it in people’s homes. In addition, they want to investigate people’s physiological response to the device; think of changes in heart rate or breathing patterns. In this way they hope to find out exactly how and why the breathing pillow is able to deal with feelings of anxiety.