Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key study I-LIFE-110 in-depth review
Breathing exercises and stress
Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials.
Overview
Fincham GW et al.. Sci Rep 2023 · PMID 36624160 · DOI 10.1038/s41598-022-27247-y
Breathing exercises reduced stress, anxiety and low mood by a small to moderate amount.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Test breathwork for stress.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis of RCTs.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
785 adults (stress outcome).
- What was actually found?
g -0.35 for stress.
- How large was the observed effect?
g -0.35 (-0.55 to -0.14).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Slow breathing can help you feel calmer.
- What are the study's limitations?
Self-report; unblinded.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports a modest benefit.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applies; same physiology.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Effects on physical disease.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Fincham GW et al.
- Journal
- Sci Rep
- Year
- 2023
- Identifier
- PMID 36624160 DOI 10.1038/s41598-022-27247-y
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref update-to/updated-by check
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
First author trained as a breath teacher (stated).
2. Research question
Does breathwork reduce stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
- Population
Adults
- Country
International
- Period
Search to Feb 2022
- Sample size
12 RCTs (785 adults) for stress; 20 for anxiety; 18 for depression
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
not stated in abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Breathwork interventions
- Comparator
Non-breathwork controls
- Endpoints
Self-reported stress, anxiety, depression
- Statistical methods
Random effects Hedges g
5. Actual results
- Results
Stress g -0.35 (95% CI -0.55 to -0.14), I2 42%; anxiety g -0.32 (p<0.0001); depression g -0.40 (p<0.0001); most studies moderate risk of bias.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Breathwork may be effective for improving stress and mental health; caution and low risk-of-bias designs needed.
6. Strengths
- RCTs only
7. Weaknesses
- Self-reported outcomes; unblinded
- Author COI
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Moderate RoB in primary studies.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Small-to-medium effect; see stats/I-LIFE-111_breathing.py.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Supports a modest benefit of breathing exercises on stress and mood.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Universal biology; applies in Europe and Egypt.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Moderate support for the mental-health part.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- Deep (slow) breathing is beneficial for health. – Studies supporting the claim
- Daily movement, deep breathing and adequate sleep complement the system. – Studies supporting the claim