Effects of Breathing Exercises on Fear of COVID-19, Anxiety, Sleep and Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Effects of Breathing Exercises on Fear of COVID-19, Anxiety, Sleep and Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

It has been reported that in the first stages of the pandemic, a significant portion of the general population experienced psychological problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic disorders. These problems persist today. A balanced diet, physical activity participation and relaxation techniques are recommended for preventing such problems. In studies conducted before the pandemic, it is reported that breathing exercises have positive effects on anxiety, sleep and quality of life in both patients and healthy individuals. Aim of this study is to investigate the effects of breathing exercises applied via teleconference on fear of COVID-19, anxiety, sleep and quality of life in healthy adult population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• volunteering to participate in the study
• having a smart phone that can be used for teleconferencing purposes

Exclusion Criteria:

• have had COVID-19
• hospital admission for suspected COVID-19 in the past week
• having acute respiratory tract infection
• having any diagnosed chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic or neurological diseases