Psychophysiological effects of practicing static qigong meditation in breast cancer survivors
Psychophysiological effects of practicing static qigong meditation in breast cancer survivors

Summary/Abstract: Background: Cancer treatment can result in severe impairments regarding patients quality oflife, such as persistent fatigue, sleep disturbance, and a series of psychological conditionsranging from fear or sadness to anxiety or even depression. Various forms of meditation havebeen studied in association with the reduction of symptoms related to cancer and cancertherapy. The growing number of breast cancer survivors triggers the need of a betterattention in clinical practice regarding their quality of life.Objectives: The aim of the present research consists in investigating the extent to whichmeditation, specifically, static qigong as a psychotherapeutic method, is effective inameliorating impairments in breast cancer survivors.Method: Thirty-one breast cancer survivors participated in the research. The subjects thatnever practiced meditation were invited to join a research during which they had to practicestatic qigong meditation, once a day, for five weeks. Several psychophysiological indicatorssuch as, plasma cortisol level, electrodermal reaction, palms temperature, oxygen saturationin the blood, anxiety levels, illness perception were measured before and after theintervention, and social support and personality features before intervention.Results: The results of the paired samples t-tests suggest that after the five-week interventionlower cortisol levels were obtained, as well as a better electrodermal reaction, increased palms

• Details
• Contents