The Effect of Mixed Natural Sounds on Stress Recovery: Insights into Physiological Benefits and Temporal Dynamics

The effect of natural sound on stress recovery is heterogeneous. The combination mode of natural sounds and sound duration may affect stress recovery. We conducted a study with 104 participants, randomly assigning them to one of three groups. Each group underwent an adapted version of the Montreal Imaging Stress Test (MIST) to induce stress, followed by a rest stage where they were exposed to either a single natural sound, a mixed sound environment, or no sound at all. Physiological data and self-reported stress levels were recorded at baseline, during the MIST test and the rest stages, and were analyzed using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). Our findings revealed that the mixed sound environment was more effective in promoting physiological stress recovery, with a consistent recovery time course observed across all participant groups. Our study provides valuable insights and practical guidelines for stress management.