Mind the Motion: Feasibility and Effects of a Qigong Intervention on Interoception and Well-Being in Young Adults

TL;DR

A 12-week Qigong program improved interoceptive awareness and well-being in university students, especially those with higher anxiety.

Contribution

Demonstrates Qigong's potential as a low-cost, effective mind–body intervention for enhancing mental health in academic settings.

Findings

Qigong improved interoceptive awareness dimensions like Body Listening and Emotional Awareness.

Participants with higher anxiety showed greater emotional awareness and self-regulation after the program.

The intervention was feasible in an academic setting with high attendance and engagement.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
A 12-week Qigong program significantly improved multiple dimensions of interoceptive awareness (e.g., Body Listening, Trusting, Self-Regulation, Emotional Awareness) and enhanced emotion regulation, mindfulness, and psychological well-being among university students.Participants with lower baseline interoceptive ability or higher trait anxiety benefited the most, showing greater emotional awareness and self-regulatory capacity.

A 12-week Qigong program significantly improved multiple dimensions of interoceptive awareness (e.g., Body Listening, Trusting, Self-Regulation, Emotional Awareness) and enhanced emotion regulation, mindfulness, and psychological well-being among university students.

Participants with lower baseline interoceptive ability or higher trait anxiety benefited the most, showing greater emotional awareness and self-regulatory capacity.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Qigong, by integrating both top-down and bottom-up processes, may represent an effective, low-cost, and replicable mind–body intervention for promoting mental health and resilience in academic settings.The results support the inclusion of interoceptive and movement-based practices in preventive psychological programs, emphasizing their role in enhancing emotional regulation and stress adaptation among young adults.

Qigong, by integrating both top-down and bottom-up processes, may represent an effective, low-cost, and replicable mind–body intervention for promoting mental health and resilience in academic settings.

The results support the inclusion of interoceptive and movement-based practices in preventive psychological programs, emphasizing their role in enhancing emotional regulation and stress adaptation among young adults.

Background/Objectives: The present exploratory study evaluates the feasibility and psychological effects of a structured Qigong intervention implemented in an Italian university setting. Qigong is a traditional Chinese mind–body practice combining gentle movements, breathwork, and mindful attention, aimed at enhancing mind–body integration and interoceptive awareness. Methods: A total of 332 undergraduate students voluntarily enrolled in a 12-week Qigong program. The intervention was based on Neidan Qigong and integrated both static and dynamic exercises. Psychological functioning was assessed through several self-report measures evaluating a range of constructs, including mindfulness (FFMQ), interoceptive ability (MAIA), perceived stress (PSS), depression, anxiety, and stress (BDI; DASS-21; STAI Y), emotion regulation (DERS), alexithymia (TAS), and sleep quality (PSQI). Results: A total of 114 students completed the intervention. The protocol was well received by participants and demonstrated high feasibility in the academic context, with good attendance rates and overall engagement. Preliminary findings indicate consistent improvements across several psychological domains. Conclusions: The results suggest that Qigong may be associated with improvements in mental health and well-being in young adults and may represent a promising, low-cost intervention. The findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Further research using controlled and methodologically rigorous designs is needed to assess the stability of these effects over time, incorporate physiological measures, and clarify the specific therapeutic contribution of spontaneous movement within Qigong practice.

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