The Effect of Pythagorean Self-Awareness on Heart Rate Variability, Perceived Stress and Behavior of Preschool Children
Kyriaki Angelopoulou,
Eleni Zaverdinou,
Flora Bacopoulou,
George P. Chrousos,
Giorgos Giannakakis,
Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein,
Sophie Mavrogeni,
Maria Charalampopoulou,
Maria Katimertzi,
Christina Darviri
Affiliations
Kyriaki Angelopoulou
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Eleni Zaverdinou
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Flora Bacopoulou
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
George P. Chrousos
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Giorgos Giannakakis
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Sophie Mavrogeni
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece
Maria Charalampopoulou
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Maria Katimertzi
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Christina Darviri
Postgraduate Course of Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
Stress is associated with unhealthy habits and non-communicable diseases. It is also linked to communicable diseases due to its impact on immune function. These can be prevented through intervention programs in schools. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the simplified Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention on heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, perceived stress and behaviors of preschool children. The sample of the study consisted of 45 preschool students. A “one group (double) pretest—posttest design” was used, to allow for comparisons of the measurements before and after the intervention. Students were assessed via two questionnaires (“Perceived Stress Scale for Children” (PSS-C) and “Checklist for Screening Behavioral Problems in Preschool Children”) and a photoplethysmographic (PPG) device. The intervention lasted 9 weeks and included practicing of the Pythagorean Self-awareness techniques and the adoption of healthy behaviors. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two pretests (p > 0.05 for all comparisons) and statistically significant differences between the second pretest and posttest (“Perceived Stress Scale for Children”, (PSS-C) p p p p = 0.034). In conclusion, the Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention had a beneficial effect on the sample of preschool students examined, as the results showed an improvement in the perceived stress and the HRV parameters tested, and in engaging healthier behaviors, findings that indicate a relaxed psychologic state and a healthier lifestyle.
