Acute Effects of Qigong Exercise on Mood and Anxiety
This Abstract comes from www.sciencedirect.com.
Mattias Johanssona, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Peter Hassménb, c and John Joupera
a Department of Health Sciences, ?rebro University, Sweden
b Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden
c University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Available online 11 July 2008.
Psychosocial stress may lead to increased rates of anxiety and depression. Aerobic exercise and mind-body therapies are frequently described as having positive effects on psychological well-being by enhancing mood and reducing anxiety. Few studies, however, have investigated the acute psychological effects of qigong exercise. Fifty-nine regular qigong exercisers (mean age 50.8 years) were randomized to a Qigong or Control group. Pre- and postmeasurements were then compared. POMS-Depression, Anger, and Fatigue, and STAI-State Anxiety scores decreased significantly in the Qigong group but not in the Control group. Results thereby suggest that qigong exercise can produce desirable psychological effects, and Qigong exercise may therefore be included among other activities performed to boost resistance to daily stressors.
Author Keywords: qigong exercise. ; Qi-training; anxiety; mood; emotion
The present study was supported by Sparbankenstiftelsen Nya, Sweden. We also would like to thank T?res Theorell for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article.
Corresponding Author Contact InformationDepartment of Health Sciences, ?rebro University, SE-701 82 rebro, Sweden.