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Effects of Taiji Practice on Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in Healthy Participants—A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Taiji is regarded as a mind–body practice that is characterized by gentle and mindful body movements. In contrast to the continuously growing evidence base supporting the beneficial effects of Taiji on physical and mental well-being, studies investigating its underlying mechanisms are still scarce. The aim of our study was to examine the impact of Taiji practice on self-attribution of mindfulness and self-compassion, two potential components well known for their health promoting effects. Seventy healthy participants (age range: 23–50 years) were randomly assigned either to the intervention group or to a wait list control group. The intervention group attended Taiji classes twice a week for 3 months. Before, shortly after and 2 months after the intervention, we measured the degree of self-attributed mindfulness and self-compassion in all study participants by using self-report questionnaires. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significantly higher increase scores in self-attributed mindfulness after the intervention that persisted 2 months later. Increases in self-attributed self-compassion were also higher in Taiji practitioners, with significant group differences from preintervention to follow-up assessment. Our findings suggest that Taiji practice can effectively enhance self-attribution of mindfulness and is likely to have beneficial effects on self-compassion in healthy participants. The role of mindfulness as a mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of Taiji practice warrants further research.

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Acknowledgments

This trial was funded by Stiftung für Komplementärmedizin, Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Stiftung, Parrotia Stiftung (to MN) and by the Swiss National Foundation Grant PP00P1_128565/1 (to PHW). The funding sources had no role in study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

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All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern, Imhoof-Pavillon, Inselspital, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Marko Nedeljkovic & Brigitte Ausfeld-Hafter

  2. Institute of Psychology, Department of Biological and Health Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Petra H. Wirtz

Authors
  1. Marko Nedeljkovic
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  2. Petra H. Wirtz
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  3. Brigitte Ausfeld-Hafter
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Correspondence to Marko Nedeljkovic.

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Nedeljkovic, M., Wirtz, P.H. & Ausfeld-Hafter, B. Effects of Taiji Practice on Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in Healthy Participants—A Randomized Controlled Trial. Mindfulness 3, 200–208 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0092-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0092-7

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