Vocal Chanting and Relaxation Provide Psychosocial Benefits for Individuals Living with Self-Reported Breathing Difficulties
Music & Science September 1, 2025 Gemma Perry, Jack Sunjo, Farida Abass et al.
A brief session of group chanting can boost positive mood more than guided relaxation, according to a randomized trial with 66 Australian adults, 41 of whom had dysfunctional breathing and 25 normal respiratory function. Both chanting and relaxation improved flourishing, social connection, and reduced negative mood, with greater and more consistent benefits for those with breathing difficulties. Non-attachment, autonomy, and breathing function improved similarly across both groups. The authors suggest chanting and relaxation offer psychosocial and breathing-related benefits, particularly for people with dysfunctional breathing, though reduced statistical power to detect group differences means the findings warrant replication.