Qigong and stress, psychological: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about qigong and stress, psychological. It does not say whether qigong works for any person or condition. Talk to a qualified health professional before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition.

Studies in PubMed

32 (tagged with “Stress, Psychological” as a major topic)

Years

2004–2026

Registered trials

1 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Types of studies

Each study is counted once, under its strongest type in this order: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, review, observational study.

Studies, newest first

1. Self-Guided Internet-Based Mindfulness-Informed Stress Management for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial With Longitudinal Network Analysis. — Journal of medical Internet research, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
2. Effects of Tai Chi and Qigong intervention on anxiety and stress in diabetic and hypertensive Brazilian patients: a randomized controlled trial. — Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
3. Effects of qigong for physical and psychological well-being in pregnancy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. — Complementary therapies in medicine, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
4. Changes Induced by Mind-Body Intervention Including Epigenetic Marks and Its Effects on Diabetes. — International journal of molecular sciences, 2021 · DOIReview
5. The effect of physical activity interventions on occupational stress for health personnel: A systematic review. — International journal of nursing studies, 2019 · DOISystematic Review
6. Understanding mind-body disciplines: A pilot study of paced breathing and dynamic muscle contraction on autonomic nervous system reactivity. — Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 2019 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
7. The effect of Imaginary Working Qigong on the psychological well-being of college students: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — Medicine, 2018 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
8. Protocol for the MATCH study (Mindfulness and Tai Chi for cancer health): A preference-based multi-site randomized comparative effectiveness trial (CET) of Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) vs. Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) for cancer survivors. — Contemporary clinical trials, 2017 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
9. Qigong in Injured Military Service Members. — Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association, 2017 · DOI
10. Study protocol on comparative effectiveness of mindfulness meditation and qigong on psychophysiological outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2017 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
11. Telomerase activity and its association with psychological stress, mental disorders, lifestyle factors and interventions: A systematic review. — Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2016 · DOISystematic Review
12. A perspective on complementary/alternative medicine use among survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Benefits and uncertainties. — Cancer, 2015 · DOISystematic Review
13. A pilot evaluation on a stress management programme using a combined approach of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for elementary school teachers. — Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 2015 · DOI
14. Qigong as a Traditional Vegetative Biofeedback Therapy: Long-Term Conditioning of Physiological Mind-Body Effects. — BioMed research international, 2015 · DOI
15. Effect of a qigong intervention program on telomerase activity and psychological stress in abused Chinese women: a randomized, wait-list controlled trial. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2014 · DOI
16. Levels of fatigue and distress in senior prostate cancer survivors enrolled in a 12-week randomized controlled trial of Qigong. — Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2014 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
17. Managing stress and anxiety through qigong exercise in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2014 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
18. Mind-body practices in cancer care. — Current oncology reports, 2014 · DOIReview
19. Biochemical and psychometric evaluation of Self-Healing Qigong as a stress reduction tool among first year nursing and midwifery students. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2013 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
20. Effects of a brief Qigong-based stress reduction program (BQSRP) in a distressed Korean population: a randomized trial. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2013 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
21. Effects of qigong on performance-related anxiety and physiological stress functions in transverse flute music schoolchildren: a feasibility study. — Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine, 2012
22. The story of the evolution of a unique tai chi form: origins, philosophy, and research. — Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association, 2012
23. Nurses' experiences, expectations, and preferences for mind-body practices to reduce stress. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2011 · DOI
24. Qigong training and effects on stress, neck-shoulder pain and life quality in a computerised office environment. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2011 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
25. Effects of scheduled qigong exercise on pupils' well-being, self-image, distress, and stress. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2010 · DOIClinical Trial
26. Meditative movement as a category of exercise: implications for research. — Journal of physical activity & health, 2009
27. Qigong stress reduction in hospital staff. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2008 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
28. Biopsychosocial effects of qigong as a mindful exercise for people with anxiety disorders: a speculative review. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2007Review
29. Effects of chan-chuang qigong on improving symptom and psychological distress in chemotherapy patients. — The American journal of Chinese medicine, 2006
30. [Qigong has a relieving effect on stress]. — Lakartidningen, 2006Randomized Controlled Trial
31. Beneficial effects of the Nishino breathing method on immune activity and stress level. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2005
32. Commentary: Multifaceted health benefits of medical qigong. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2004Review

Registered clinical trials

Government health information

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarizes the evidence on qigong.

Study list: PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), citation data only. Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: PubMed (NLM citation data, free to use (abstracts not reproduced)); ClinicalTrials.gov (Public domain (U.S. Government work)); NCCIH (Public domain (U.S. Government work)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.