Effect of a Qigong intervention on telomerase activity and psychological well-being of abused Chinese women

Abstract

 Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adverse health outcomes. Exposure to chronic psychological stress is linked to the shortening of telomere, a cellular marker of aging. A pioneering study found accelerated telomere shortening in abused women. Telomerase is an enzyme that counters telomere shortening by adding telomeric DNA to shortened telomeres, thereby promoting cell longevity. Evidence has shown mindfulness practices are useful in increasing telomerase activity as a way to slow cellular aging. Qigong, a mind-body intervention rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, includes mindfulness as a key component and is useful for achieving a harmonious flow of energy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of qigong on telomerase activity, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and perceived coping among abused Chinese women. This study adopted a randomised wait-list control design. In a community setting, 271 Chinese women with abuse histories were recruited. They were randomly placed into either an intervention group (n = 136) or a wait-list control group (n = 135). The intervention group received a 5.5-month qigong Baduanjin intervention delivered by a qigong master that comprised group training, follow-up sessions, and self-practice. Telomerase activity was assessed by analysing blood samples at baseline and post-intervention (22 weeks later). Data on psychological outcomes were collected by questionnaires at three time points, i.e. baseline, post-training (6 weeks later), and post-intervention. After the intervention group completed the intervention and the final data were collected, the wait-list control group attended the qigong training. Overall, 247 participants (91.1%) completed the study. Analysis based on the intention-to-treat principle indicated significant group × time interaction effects for telomerase activity, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress (p = 0.049, 0.001, and 0.008, respectively). Telomerase activity increased significantly in intervention group members (from 186.93 to 265.86, p = 0.015) but not in control group members (from 251.57 to 241.16, p = 0.742). The overall reduction of depressive symptoms and perceived stress among the intervention group was significantly greater than it was for the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.041), although improvement was observed in both groups. Participants of both groups reported a significant decrease in the use of coping strategies (p < 0.001), and the group × time interaction effect was insignificant (p = 0.199). This is the first study that provides evidence of the effect of qigong on telomerase activity and psychological well-being in abused women. The findings regarding improvement of telomerase activity are in line with previous lifestyle interventions in other populations. Qigong as a mind-body intervention is likely to increase positive cognitions and contribute to a beneficial effect on psychological health and well-being at a cellular level. The mechanism underlying the improvement warrants further investigation. This qigong intervention may serve as an alternative to the current interventions available for alleviating IPV-related negative health outcomes. It provides new insight into the development of IPV interventions considering the cellular perspective. Service providers in primary care and community settings may consider adopting qigong as a complementary service or therapy for abused Chinese women.