Effects of Mindfulness Breathing Meditation on Stress and Cognitive Functions

What is it about?

Mindfulness meditation has been suggested to protect mental health and enhance cognitive functions. However, the effectiveness of mindfulness breathing meditation for the general population in Malaysia has not been well documented. Our results showed significant improvement in cognitive flexibility and reduction in perceived stress levels after the intervention in the mindfulness breathing meditation group compared to the active control group. Participants in the mindfulness breathing meditation group self-reported this intervention as highly acceptable and effective in promoting stress reduction, emotional regulation, and attentional control. However, no significant improvement was found in attention, inhibitory control, and HRV after the intervention, suggesting that the mindfulness breathing meditation had no effect on these variables. While short-term engagement with mindfulness breathing meditation practice is achievable, the three-month follow-up showed that sustaining long-term adherence remains a challenge.

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Photo by Alejandro Piñero Amerio on Unsplash

Photo by Alejandro Piñero Amerio on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our results showed that a 4-week mindfulness breathing meditation intervention significantly improved cognitive flexibility and reduced perceived stress levels. Participants self-reported this mindfulness breathing meditation intervention as highly acceptable and effective in promoting stress reduction, emotional regulation, and attentional control.