The Impact of Meditation on Instantaneous Respiration Rate and Amplitude: A Secondary Data Analysis

Abstract Objectives Prior research has established a correlation between heightened stress and a variety of health consequences. In addition, various measures of stress have been shown to be affected by mind–body practices. This secondary data analysis aimed to evaluate respiratory responses to acute cognitive stress in individuals of various meditation experience levels.

Method: Breath-to-breath interval (BBI) and respiration amplitude were recorded during four conditions using a piezoelectric chest belt. The effects of condition and group were evaluated using repeated measures ANOVA. The group x condition interaction of the non-meditator ( n = 15) and meditator ( n = 30) groups was the primary effect of interest.

Results: The group x condition interaction was not significant for BBI ( F [1.26,42.70] = 0.34, p = 0.61) or amplitude ( F [2.09,71.02] = 0.60, p = 0.56). Regarding BBI, the main effect of condition ( F [1.26,42.70] = 21.94, p < 0.01) was significant, while the main effect of group ( F [1,34] = 0.05, p = 0.83) was not significant. Regarding breath amplitude, the main effect of condition ( F [2.09,71.02] = 34.39, p < 0.01) was significant, while the main effect of group was not significant ( F [1,34] = 2.81, p = 0.10).

Conclusions: Meditators exhibited greater breath amplitude than non-meditators. Changes in BBI and breath amplitude across conditions did not differ significantly by group; however, the absence of a significant group × condition interaction should be interpreted cautiously given the secondary nature of the analysis and limited power to detect interaction effects. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.