Effect of Mindfulness Dhikr Breathing Therapy for Insomniacs on Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Setiyo Purwanto, Mahadir Ahmad, Zaini Said, Nisa Rachmah Nur Anganthi, Siti Zulaekah
Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal June 26, 2023 DOI: 10.25217/0020236368800 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 47 |
| Population | Adults aged 20-35 with insomnia, 78.72% female, 91.49% students |
| Interventions | Mindfulness dhikr breathing Progressive muscle relaxation |
| Duration | 28-day treatment period with four sessions conducted every Saturday |
| Measures | World Health Organization-Quality of Life (WHOQOL) BREF |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Insomnia Breathing exercises Physical therapy Analysis of variance Randomized controlled trial Diaphragmatic breathing Progressive muscle relaxation Mann–whitney u test Clinical psychology Relaxation psychology Psychotherapist Alternative medicine |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness dhikr breathing therapy improved quality of life in adults with insomnia, with significant effects on overall QoL, general health, physical and psychological well-being, and environmental factors, but not social relationships. Effects were comparable to progressive muscle relaxation. |
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the impact of mindfulness dhikr breathing therapy on the quality of life among individuals suffering from insomnia. This study involved forty-seven participants who were randomly allocated into three groups: mindfulness dhikr breathing (MDB), progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and a Control group that did not receive any treatment. The participants were adults aged between 20 and 35 years, with 78.72% female and 21.28% male. Among the participants, 91.49% were students, while 8.51% were employees. The treatment period spanned 28 days, with four sessions conducted every Saturday. The primary outcome measure was the assessment of the quality of life, which was evaluated using a valid and reliable World Health Organization-Quality of Life (WHOQOL) BREF questionnaire. Statistical analysis involved the utilization of various tests, including paired t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and one-way ANOVA tests. Significant differences were observed in the effects of the three intervention groups on overall QoL (p=.035), general health (p=.008), physical well-being (p=.006), psychological well-being (p=.000), and environmental factors (p=.007), except for the social relationship domain (p=.269). However, no significant differences were found in the effects of MDB and PMR treatments on overall QoL (p=.922), general health (p=.756), physical well-being (p=.497), psychological well-being (p=.883), social relationships (p=.569), and environmental factors (p=.618). In conclusion, mindfulness dhikr breathing therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with insomnia. It holds the potential to serve as a suitable alternative to commonly used insomnia therapies, such as progressive muscle relaxation.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Commentary: Rethinking pathways to well-being: the function of faith practice in distress alleviation among displaced Muslim women affected by war Frontiers in Psychiatry December 1, 2025
- Mindfulness and trauma recovery among internally displaced individuals: the mediating role of distress tolerance in a cross-sectional mediation model Frontiers in Psychology September 24, 2025
- Using Islamic Mindfulness-Based Interventions as a Compass for Improving Muslim Mental Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review Harvard Review of Psychiatry August 26, 2026
- Islamic mindfulness as cultural mindfulness: a conceptual framework for decision-making and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology February 11, 2026
Cites 8
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Insomnia Sleep August 29, 2014
- Using Mindfulness for the Treatment of Insomnia. Current Sleep Medicine Reports April 29, 2017
- The Effects of a Mindfulness Meditation Program on Quality of Life in Cancer Outpatients: An Exploratory Study Integrative Cancer Therapies October 23, 2021
- The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Burnout in Nurses Journal of Holistic Nursing May 17, 2021
- Effects of guided mindfulness meditation on anxiety and stress in a pre-healthcare college student population: a pilot study Journal of American College Health August 1, 2020
and 3 more in the library