Characterizing the Profile of Individuals Who Undergo Flotation-REST: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Flotation, a form of restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST), entails lying in a warm saltwater tank. Evidence links it to lower stress and improved mood, but user characteristics outside trials remain unclear. We profiled flotation users and compared health and lifestyle measures with a population benchmark. Adults were recruited from an online community forum and a flotation center in the southwestern United States. The survey included the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15) and standardized items from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Users were grouped by duration and frequency, and selected outcomes were compared with NHANES. Sixty-one users participated. Over half were long-term and monthly users. Mindfulness scores were moderately above average. Compared with NHANES, users more often reported depression, daily anxiety, and sleep disturbance, and reported more moderate-intensity exercise and muscle soreness. Rates of alcohol abstinence did not differ. In this real-world sample, flotation users were physically active and frequently reported anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, while showing moderately above average mindfulness. Because this was a cross-sectional survey without pre-floating baselines, differences from NHANES reflect current status rather than changes due to flotation. We plan prospective pre-/post-studies with larger, more diverse samples.