Tai chi and stress, psychological: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about tai chi and stress, psychological. It does not say whether tai chi 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

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

Years

1992–2026

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. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Tai Chi versus mindful yoga on psycho-spiritual distress in patients with advanced cancer: A mixed-method pilot randomized controlled trial. — European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
2. Tai Chi as a public health intervention: effects on stress regulation, attention, and psychological resilience in adults. — Frontiers in public health, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
3. 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
4. Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Hybrid Tai Chi Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme for Psychological Stress Reduction and Oxidative Stress in Patients With Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. — Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
5. Psychological and behavioral characteristics of overweight and obese Chinese college students with high stress. — BMC psychology, 2025 · DOI
6. Tai Chi as a preventive intervention for improving mental and physical health in non-depressed college students with high perceived stress. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
7. Stress reduction through taiji: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
8. Mind-Body Interventions, Psychological Stressors, and Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors. — Stroke, 2019 · DOISystematic Review
9. The effect of physical activity interventions on occupational stress for health personnel: A systematic review. — International journal of nursing studies, 2019 · DOISystematic Review
10. 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
11. A systematic review of psychoneuroimmunology-based interventions. — Psychology, health & medicine, 2018 · DOISystematic Review
12. The Effects of Twelve Weeks of Tai Chi Practice on Anxiety in Stressed But Healthy People Compared to Exercise and Wait-List Groups-A Randomized Controlled Trial. — Journal of clinical psychology, 2018 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
13. Does Tai Chi improve psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review protocol. — BMJ open, 2017 · DOI
14. Mindfulness is associated with psychological health and moderates pain in knee osteoarthritis. — Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 2017 · DOI
15. 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
16. Efficacy of rehabilitation with Tai Ji Quan in an Italian cohort of patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2016 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
17. A perspective on complementary/alternative medicine use among survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Benefits and uncertainties. — Cancer, 2015 · DOISystematic Review
18. Mind-body practices in cancer care. — Current oncology reports, 2014 · DOIReview
19. Protocol: the effect of 12 weeks of Tai Chi practice on anxiety in healthy but stressed people compared to exercise and wait-list comparison groups: a randomized controlled trial. — Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies, 2014 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
20. Stress management in children: a pilot study in 7 to 9 year olds. — Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP, 2014 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
21. Feasibility and effectiveness of a Chen-style Tai Chi programme for stress reduction in junior secondary school students. — Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 2013 · DOI
22. Tai Chi effects on neuropsychological, emotional, and physical functioning following cancer treatment: a pilot study. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2012 · DOIClinical Trial
23. Taiji practice attenuates psychobiological stress reactivity--a randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects. — Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
24. 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
25. Changes in mindfulness, well-being, and sleep quality in college students through taijiquan courses: a cohort control study. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2011 · DOI
26. Nurses' experiences, expectations, and preferences for mind-body practices to reduce stress. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2011 · DOI
27. Tai chi and rheumatic diseases. — Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America, 2011 · DOIReview
28. Developing mindfulness in college students through movement-based courses: effects on self-regulatory self-efficacy, mood, stress, and sleep quality. — Journal of American college health : J of ACH, 2010 · DOI
29. Tai Chi on psychological well-being: systematic review and meta-analysis. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2010 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
30. Meditative movement as a category of exercise: implications for research. — Journal of physical activity & health, 2009
31. Using music to tune the heart. Music therapy, or just listening to music, can be good for the heart. — Harvard heart letter : from Harvard Medical School, 2009
32. A randomized clinical trial of alternative stress management interventions in persons with HIV infection. — Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 2008 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
33. Teaching Tai Chi with mindfulness-based stress reduction to middle school children in the inner city: a review of the literature and approaches. — Medicine and sport science, 2008 · DOIReview
34. Effect of Tai Chi on endothelial function. — Clinical cardiology, 2007
35. Mind/body techniques for physiological and psychological stress reduction: stress management via Tai Chi training - a pilot study. — Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2007
36. Research on psychoneuroimmunology: tai chi as a stress management approach for individuals with HIV disease. — Applied nursing research : ANR, 2006Randomized Controlled Trial
37. Tai Chi and mindfulness-based stress reduction in a Boston Public Middle School. — Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners, 2005
38. Yoga & Tai Chi: stress management and low impact fitness from the East. — Pennsylvania health & you, 2002
39. Efficacy of Tai Chi, brisk walking, meditation, and reading in reducing mental and emotional stress. — Journal of psychosomatic research, 1992Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial

Registered clinical trials

Government health information

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

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.