Efficacy of Online Conscious Connected Breathwork in Reducing Symptoms of Anxiety: A Quantitative Study

Amidst the growing prevalence of anxiety disorders and the limitations of existing treatments, this research paper posits that we need to expand treatment options rather than simply to include more people in therapy or on medication. The popularity of breathwork has grown enormously but is still in the process of creating a robust body of evidence to validate its utility. This research employs a true-experimental design to compare pretest and posttest measures of anxiety utilizing the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZAS) between a breathwork group and a control group. The breathwork group participated in six weekly group sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, while the control group was placed on a waitlist. The study’s results are significant with a large effect size, as CCB reduced anxiety symptoms by a mean of 10.56 points on the ZAS compared to the control group’s reduction of just 1.89. This substantial difference highlights the potential of CCB as an effective, low-cost, and accessible intervention for anxiety. Furthermore, this study pioneers the investigation of the effectiveness of CCB in an online environment, offering insights into the adaptability and potential broader application of breathwork therapies. This research supports the integration of CCB into mainstream mental health practices, addressing the increasing demand for effective mental health treatments.