The Effect of Pranayamic Breathing as a Positive Psychology Exercise on Foreign Language Learning Anxiety and Test Anxiety Among Language Learners at Tertiary Level.
Murselin Tasan, Enisa Mede, Karim Sadeghi
Frontiers in Psychology 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.742060 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-method quasi-experimental study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 140 |
| Population | Sophomore undergraduate English language learners at a Turkish university |
| Interventions | Nadi Shodhana Pranayama Bhramari Pranayama |
| Duration | 7 weeks, weekly sessions |
| Measures | English Language Learning Anxiety Scale, Foreign Language Test Anxiety Scale, listening and reading achievement pre- and post-tests |
| Topics | Meditation Anxiety |
| Keywords | Foreign language anxiety Mindfulness-based stress reduction Positive psychology Pranayamic breathing Test anxiety |
| Key findings | The authors report that weekly pranayamic breathing significantly reduced foreign language anxiety and test anxiety and improved listening and reading comprehension among English learners. Students and their instructor described the practice as useful for alleviating anxious feelings, promoting the class atmosphere, and regulating daily habits, despite implementation challenges noted by the instructor. |
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of pranayamic breathing (PB) as a positive psychology exercise on mitigating foreign language anxiety (FLLA) and test anxiety (TA) of undergraduate English students studying at a Turkish university. Additionally, the study examined the effects of PB on academic achievement in listening and reading comprehension skills of the participants as well as exploring learners' and their instructor's perceptions of using PB techniques in their classrooms. The sample consisted of 140 sophomore English language learners. Two intact classes, each comprising 70 participants, were selected as the experimental and the control group using convenience sampling. Two basic PB techniques, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama and Bhramari Pranayama, were implemented to the experimental group on a weekly basis for a total of 7 weeks. In this mixed-method study, the quantitative data were gathered using English Language Learning Anxiety Scale, Foreign Language Test Anxiety Scale, and listening and reading achievement pre- and post-tests, while the qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews, and the teacher's reflective journal. The findings revealed that the implementation of positive psychology technique of pranayama breathing mitigated the FLLA and TA levels significantly and also improved listening and reading comprehension skills of the participants to a considerable extent. The findings also demonstrated that both the students and their instructor perceived PB implementation as a useful and a practical medium in alleviating the anxious feelings, promoting the general class atmosphere and regulating daily habits despite the implementational challenges shared by the instructor.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Emotional indicators of university students: a quasi-experimental pilot study with Hatha-Yoga. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem 2025
- Does mindfulness mediate the relationship between anxiety and second language performance? A meta-analytic structural equation modeling study Frontiers in Psychology August 14, 2026
- Enhancing Mental Well-Being and Language Learning Through Mindfulness and Yoga-Based Practices Applied Mindfulness and Integrative Practices for Mental Well-Being May 6, 2026
- The Effect of Mindfulness Programs on Collegiate Test Anxiety Mindfulness October 21, 2022
- Cutting-Edge Technologies in Breathwork for Learning Disabilities in Special Education Technium Social Sciences Journal August 8, 2022
Cites 9
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering Psychological Science March 28, 2013
- Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine August 1, 2005
- Enhanced response inhibition during intensive meditation training predicts improvements in self-reported adaptive socioemotional functioning. Emotion April 1, 2011
- Effects of Yoga Respiratory Practice (Bhastrika pranayama) on Anxiety, Affect, and Brain Functional Connectivity and Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Frontiers in Psychiatry May 21, 2020
and 4 more in the library