Effects of breathing rhythm–based exercise intervention on perceived stress and emotion regulation in cancer patients

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a breathing rhythm-based exercise intervention on perceived stress and emotion regulation in cancer patients. Two hundred participants were randomized to either an 8-week structured breathing intervention or attention-matched control condition. Results demonstrated significant improvements in the intervention group compared to controls on perceived stress (Cohen’s d = 0.87), emotion regulation capacity (d = 0.76), and physiological parameters including heart rate variability (d = 0.93) and cortisol profiles. Mediation analyses revealed that improved emotion regulation accounted for 41.8% of the intervention’s effect on stress reduction. Benefits were largely maintained at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes showed significant improvements in quality of life, fatigue, and sleep quality. Intervention efficacy was moderated by cancer type and treatment status, with stronger effects observed in breast and lung cancer patients and those who had completed primary treatment. These findings suggest that breathing rhythm-based exercises represent an effective, accessible, and sustainable approach for reducing psychological distress and enhancing emotion regulation in cancer patients, operating through both psychological and physiological pathways.