Taiji practice attenuates psychobiological stress reactivity - A randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects

Nedeljkovic, Marko; Ausfeld-Hafter, Brigitte; Streitberger, Konrad; Seiler, Roland; Wirtz, Petra H. (2012). Taiji practice attenuates psychobiological stress reactivity - A randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37(8), pp. 1171-1180. Oxford: Elsevier 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.007

[img] Text
Taiji_practice.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (604kB) | Request a copy

Background: Stress reducing effects of Taiji, a mindful and gentle form of body movement, have been reported in previous studies, but standardized and controlled experimental studies are scarce. The present study investigates the effect of regular Taiji practice on psychobiological stress response in healthy men and women.

Methods: 70 participants were randomly assigned to either Taiji classes or a waiting list. After 3 months, 26 (8 men, 18 women) persons in the Taiji group and 23 (9 men, 14 women) in the waiting control group underwent a standardized psychosocial stress test combining public speaking and mental arithmetic in front of an audience. Salivary cortisol and α-amylase, heart rate, and psychological responses to psychosocial stress were compared between the study groups. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01122706.)

Results: Stress induced characteristic changes in all psychological and physiological measures. Compared to controls, Taiji participants exhibited a significantly lower stress reactivity of cortisol (p = .028) and heart rate (p = .028), as well as lower α-amylase levels (p = .049). They reported a lower increase in perceived stressfulness (p = .006) and maintained a higher level of calmness (p = .019) in response to psychosocial stress.

Conclusion: Our results consistently suggest that practicing Taiji attenuates psychobiological stress reactivity in healthy subjects. This may underline the role of Taiji as a useful mind–body practice for stress prevention.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology > Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > Clinic and Policlinic for Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy
04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (IKIM)
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW)
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW) > Sport Science II [discontinued]

UniBE Contributor:

Nedeljkovic, Marko, Ausfeld, Brigitte, Streitberger, Konrad Markus, Seiler, Roland, Wirtz, Petra Hedwig

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0306-4530

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Jeannie Wurz

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:29

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:21

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.007

PubMed ID:

22222120

Web of Science ID:

000306583100004

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.11015

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/11015 (FactScience: 216963)

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback