Enhancing Subjective Well-Being Through Qigong: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults in Hong Kong With Chronic Physical Illness

Context • Eight-section Brocades, a qigong protocol, has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults with chronic physical illness, but its positive effects on quality of life, such as subjective well-being, aren’t known. Objective • This study intended to evaluate the efficacy of qigong for increasing subjective well-being in older adults with chronic physical illness. Design • A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Setting • A governmental family clinic in Hong Kong. Participants • Participants were 47 older adults, 19 males and 28 females, with chronic physical illness. Intervention • Participants were randomly assigned to an Eight-section Brocades group (n = 25) or a cognitive training group (n = 22). The groups received 12 weeks of the Eight-section Brocades intervention or of cognitive training, respectively. Outcome Measures • The primary outcome—subjective well-being—and the secondary outcomes—functional independence, sleep quality, mobility, and hand grip strength—were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and at a one-month follow-up. Results • No significant between-group differences were observed in improvements in subjective well-being or any of the secondary outcomes. Significant improvements in subjective sleep quality and decreases in daytime dysfunction over time were reported by participants in both groups. Conclusions • The findings didn’t support 12 weeks of Eight-section Brocades qigong as an effective treatment to enhance the subjective well-being of older adults with chronic physical illness. These null findings may be due to the possibilities that: (1) the treatment may have minimal effects on positive psychology outcomes; (2) the primary outcome measure showed possible ceiling effects for the groups; (3) the current study used an active control condition that may have had more benefits than the control conditions used in previous studies; (4) the current study may have been underpowered; (5) more than 12 weeks (24 sessions) of qigong may be required to impact well-being; or (6) some combination of these factors may have affected the results.