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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07263828

Breath Meditation on the Older People

A decrease in physical activity during old age leads to a decline in quality of life and life satisfaction. Increased stress and anxiety levels during this period negatively affect individuals' mood and reduce their quality of life. Individuals with a strong sense of coherence cope more effectively with stress and maintain a higher quality of life. Breathing meditation is a side-effect-free and easily applicable method that reduces the effects of stress by increasing individual awareness. Mindfulness-based breathing practices contribute to mental calmness and a healthier coping with stress. Experimental studies evaluating the effects of breathing meditation on stress, sense of coherence, and quality of life in older individuals are limited in the literature. This study aimed to determine the effects of a breathing meditation program on perceived stress, sense of coherence, and quality of life in older individuals.

The study was conducted with a randomized controlled experimental design between October 2024 and September 2025 with 128 participants (63 in the experimental group and 65 in the control group). Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Sense of Personal Integrity Scale (SWI), and the Quality of Life Scale for the Elderly (WHOQOL-OLD). Individuals in the experimental group received a 15-minute breathing meditation session daily for 10 days. The control group received no intervention. The scales were administered as a pretest and a posttest after day 15 in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software; independent and dependent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and descriptive statistics were used, with a significance level of p<0.05.

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Key information

Conditions

Individuals Over 65 Years of Age Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Stress, Psychological

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sinop University

Sinop, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Individuals aged 65 years and above,
  • who volunteered to participate,
  • had no communication difficulties,
  • had not previously received any training or practice related to relaxation, breathing, or stress management.

Exclusion criteria

  • Having received any training or practice in relaxation, breathing or stress management before.

Treatment and study plan

Breathing meditation

Other

Individuals in the experimental group were given a 15-minute breathing meditation session every day for 10 days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Participant Information Form

    Time frame: Baseline- first day

    The Participant Information Form was developed by the researchers in line with the literature and included sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, educational level, and living situation

  2. Perceived Stress Scale

    Time frame: Baseline (First day)

    The scale consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("never") to 4 ("very often"), with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived stress. Negatively worded items are reverse-scored, and the total score ranges from 0 to 56.

  3. The Sense of Coherence Scale

    Time frame: Baseline (First day)

    The scale consists of 13 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale, and higher scores indicate a stronger sense of coherence. The SOC captures how individuals understand and respond to life events, their perceived ability to manage challenges, and the meaningfulness they attribute to life experiences.

  4. WHOQOL-OLD (World Health Organization Quality of Life - Older Adults Module

    Time frame: Baseline (First day)

    Quality of life was evaluated using the WHOQOL-OLD scale, developed by the World Health Organization for older adults. The scale includes 24 items covering six domains: sensory abilities, autonomy, past, present, and future activities, social participation, death and dying, and intimacy. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

  5. Perceived Stress Scale

    Time frame: Post test - Fifteenth day

    The scale consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("never") to 4 ("very often"), with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived stress. Negatively worded items are reverse-scored, and the total score ranges from 0 to 56.

  6. The Sense of Coherence Scale

    Time frame: Post test - Fifteenth day

    The scale consists of 13 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale, and higher scores indicate a stronger sense of coherence. The SOC captures how individuals understand and respond to life events, their perceived ability to manage challenges, and the meaningfulness they attribute to life experiences.

  7. WHOQOL-OLD (World Health Organization Quality of Life - Older Adults Module

    Time frame: Post test - Fifteenth day

    Quality of life was evaluated using the WHOQOL-OLD scale, developed by the World Health Organization for older adults. The scale includes 24 items covering six domains: sensory abilities, autonomy, past, present, and future activities, social participation, death and dying, and intimacy. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Aydın University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of a Breathing Meditation Program on Perceived Stress, Sense of Integrity, and Quality of Life in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Study

Acronym: MEDITATION

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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