Nadi Shodhana As A Breathing-Based Intervention For Enhancing Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life n College Female Students

Abstract

Background: Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, also known as alternate nostril breathing, is a traditional yogic breathing technique that may influence psychological well-being, respiratory function, and cardiovascular regulation. College students frequently experience academic and psychosocial stress, making breathing-based interventions a potentially accessible approach to promoting health and well-being.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama on perceived stress, quality of life, forced vital capacity (FVC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among female college students.

Methods: A quantitative, randomized controlled pre-test–post-test experimental study was conducted among 30 unmarried female college students aged 18–25 years. Participants were divided into two groups of 15 each. Group A performed Nadi Shodhana Pranayama twice daily for six weeks, while Group B continued their usual routine. Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), quality-of-life assessment, FVC measurement, and blood pressure measurements. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests in SPSS version 25.0.

Results: Within Group A, statistically significant pre–post changes were reported in PSS (p < 0.001), quality of life (p < 0.001), FVC (p < 0.001), SBP (p = 0.006), and DBP (p < 0.001). Between-group comparisons indicated statistically significant differences in quality of life, FVC, SBP, and DBP, whereas the difference in PSS was not statistically significant (p = 0.38).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that six weeks of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama may be associated with improvements in quality of life and selected physiological parameters among female college students. However, the absence of a statistically significant between-group difference in perceived stress and inconsistencies in some reported statistical values warrant cautious interpretation. Further studies with larger samples and verified statistical analyses are required to establish its effectiveness.