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


Autoria(s): Nedeljkovic, Marko; Ausfeld-Hafter, Brigitte; Streitberger, Konrad; Seiler, Roland; Wirtz, Petra H.
Data(s)

2012

Resumo

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.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://boris.unibe.ch/11015/1/Taiji_practice.pdf

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 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.007>

doi:10.7892/boris.11015

info:doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.007

info:pmid:22222120

urn:issn:0306-4530

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Elsevier

Relação

http://boris.unibe.ch/11015/

Direitos

info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

Fonte

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 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.007>

Palavras-Chave #610 Medicine & health
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

PeerReviewed