Findings in context
depression, anxiety
Our findings are surprising in the context of a broad theoretical and empirical literature pointing to beneficial effects of slow-paced breathwork on stress, mental health, sleep and wellbeing. Recent reviews have reported on the psychologicalRegarding sleep outcomes, Laborde et al.’s study with 64 participants found that slow-paced breathing at 6 bcpm using a mobile application for 15 min/day before sleep over one month led to improvements in vagal activity overnight and subjective sleep qualityOur results are not unique in finding null effects for CB. Several recent studies reporting on relatively brief, remote breathwork practices have found an absence of effect on similar measured outcomes. For example, an RCT comprising 80 young adults with elevated stress found no significant differences between a CB group (20 min/day, five times per week, for 28 days) and a waitlist control on subjective stress, anxiety and depression at post-intervention