In 2013, Hwang, et. al., conducted the study on Mind-body exercises, such as Qigong, have gained attention as potential interventions for alleviating distress in various populations. In Korea, where distressed individuals are prevalent, investigating the effectiveness of Qigong techniques becomes imperative. In a recent study, researchers examined the impact of a brief Qigong-based stress reduction program (BQSRP) on perceived stress, anxiety, anger syndrome (“Hwa-Byung”), and quality of life in a distressed Korean population.

Fifty eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the BQSRP intervention group or a wait-list control group. The intervention group underwent a 4-week program, while the control group did not receive any intervention during this period. Saliva samples were collected and questionnaires on perceived stress, anxiety, “Hwa-Byung,” and quality of life were completed before and after the intervention. Salivary cortisol, a biologic marker of stress, was also measured to evaluate the physiological effects of BQSRP. Statistical analysis included analysis of covariance and independent two-sample t-tests for between-group comparisons of changes from baseline to study completion.

Compared to the control group, the BQSRP intervention group exhibited significant improvements across various measures. Specifically, the BQSRP group demonstrated significantly larger decreases in Perceived Stress Scale scores (p = 0.0006), State Anxiety scores (p = 0.0028), Trait Anxiety scores (p < 0.0001), personality subscale scores of the Hwa-Byung Scale (p = 0.0321), and symptom scores of the Hwa-Byung Scale (p = 0.0196). Additionally, the intervention group showed a significantly larger increase in World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated version scores (ps < .05). However, salivary cortisol levels remained unchanged after the intervention.

The findings of this study suggest that the BQSRP is an effective intervention for reducing stress perception, anxiety, and anger, while also improving the quality of life among distressed individuals in Korea. These results highlight the potential benefits of Qigong-based mind-body exercises in promoting mental well-being. The lack of changes in salivary cortisol levels may indicate that the observed improvements were primarily driven by psychological factors rather than direct physiological effects. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and long-term effects of BQSRP.

Reference: Hwang, E. Y., Chung, S. Y., Cho, J. H., Song, M. Y., Kim, S., & Kim, J. W. (2013). Effects of a Brief Qigong-based Stress Reduction Program (BQSRP) in a distressed Korean population: a randomized trial. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 13(1), 1-7.