The impact of a guided paced breathing audiovisual intervention on anxiety symptoms in Palestinian children: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundChildren in Palestine may be at high risk for anxiety symptoms. However, access to mental health services is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to examine whether a guided audiovisual paced breathing intervention was feasible, acceptable, and improved anxiety symptoms in Palestinian children.MethodsStudents (6–10 years old) in an after‐school program in Palestine were randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. All participants completed a pre‐ and post‐intervention measure of anxiety using the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Participants in the intervention completed 24 sessions over 8 weeks and rated breathing ease as well as pre‐ and post‐session relaxation on a 5‐point Likert scale. To examine condition differences in post‐intervention anxiety, four analyses of covariance were conducted, adjusting for age, sex, and pre‐intervention anxiety.ResultsA total of 144 participants (65.3% girls; Mage = 7.5 ± 1.2; 50% per condition) enrolled in the study. There were no differences in demographics or baseline anxiety between the two conditions (ps > .05). Participants reported that it was easy to breathe during the sessions (Ms = 4.1–4.7, SDs = 0.5–1.1). For all but the first session, participants reported being more relaxed after the breathing session than before (ps < .003). Post‐intervention, participants in the intervention reported fewer anxiety symptoms compared to participants in the control condition (ps < .01).ConclusionA guided paced breathing audiovisual intervention was feasible and had a significant positive impact on anxiety symptoms in Palestinian children compared to a control condition. Future research should examine whether the audiovisual guided breathing intervention significantly improves long‐term outcomes.

War, Torture and Trauma in Preadolescents from Gaza Strip. Two Different Modalities of PTSD

“…The whole Palestine region, and the Gaza Strip in particular, have undergone a persistent conflict for decades that has implied repetitive exposure to violence and war, and that have clearly eroded the psychological well-being, health, and quality of life of children population (D'Andrea et al, 2023;Manzanero et al, 2021;Massad et al, 2009;Shank et al, 2023;Shehadeh et al, 2015;Thabet et al, 2014Thabet et al, , 2009Thabet & Thabet, 2016;Thabet & Vostanis, 1999, 2000, adding urgency to the need to understand and address the implications of war-related trauma in this population.…”

Editorial: Short interventions and self‐help interventions in child and adolescent mental health

“…A pilot randomized clinical trial found that a guided paced breathing audiovisual intervention of no more than 10 min per session decreased anxiety symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group (Shank et al., 2022). Another study evaluating a self‐help, online programme showed improvements in anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents, and reductions in life interference in children (Rowe, Evans, Donovan, Spence, & March, 2023).…”