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  1. Home
  3. Wave Of Change: Assessing Surf Therapy's Psychological And Physiological Benefits For Military Veterans Using Wearable Technology.
  1. Home
  3. Wave Of Change: Assessing Surf Therapy's Psychological And Physiological Benefits For Military Veterans Using Wearable Technology.

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Wave of change: assessing surf therapy's psychological and physiological benefits for military veterans using

Jonathan E Ossie1

  • 1Department of Marketing, Fowler College of Business, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.

Frontiers in Psychology
|October 2, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Surf therapy significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in military veterans. This nonpharmacological intervention showed lasting mental health benefits, supported by wearable technology data.

Keywords:
alternative therapyflowmental healthsurf therapytechnology

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Area of Science:

  • Mental Health
  • Psychology
  • Marine Biology

Background:

  • Military veterans face significant mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
  • Combat-related stressors exacerbate these conditions, with pharmacological treatments showing variable efficacy.
  • Nonpharmacological interventions, such as surf therapy, are gaining interest for veteran mental health, but require more empirical validation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a weeklong surf therapy program on psychological outcomes in veterans with PTSD.
  • To assess physiological changes using wearable technology during the surf therapy intervention.
  • To determine the short-term and 30-day post-intervention effects of surf therapy on mental health.

Main Methods:

  • A mixed-methods approach was employed with 41 veterans diagnosed with PTSD.
  • Psychological assessments included standardized surveys: GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-8 (depression), and PCL-5 (PTSD).
  • Physiological data, including heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep quality, were collected using wearable technology (Whoop bands).

    • Main Results:

    • Significant reductions were observed in general anxiety (59% immediately, 30% at 30 days), depression (44% immediately, 30% at 30 days), and PTSD symptoms (38% immediately, 35% at 30 days).
    • Wearable data showed a statistically significant decrease in HRV during the intervention.
    • Sex-specific alterations in deep and REM sleep patterns were noted, particularly among female participants.

    Conclusions:

    • Surf therapy demonstrates statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in psychological functioning for veterans with PTSD.
    • Wearable technology is a valuable tool for assessing the efficacy of complementary mental health interventions.
    • Further research is warranted to explore the broader applicability and accessibility of surf therapy for veterans.