SPECIAL ISSUE: The Impact of a Romantic Partner on Patient Experience of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback

Biofeedback interventions are often conducted individually and rarely utilize the patient’s social network to improve self-regulation skills. This is a notable omission since social systems impact patients’ psychophysiology. Participants (N = 12) completed a heart rate variability biofeedback intervention with their romantic partner, either present or absent from the room. A qualitative interview explored how the presence or absence of a partner impacted the participants’ experience of the intervention. Biofeedback practitioners may find incorporating social support persons in biofeedback interventions beneficial.