ChantWell, a SingWell-supported program, explores how chanting might help breathing, communication, and psychosocial wellbeing, especially for people living with conditions like asthma, COPD, or long COVID. Beyond physical challenges, these conditions often come with emotional struggles such as isolation and low mood.

Two recent SingWell studies, led by SingWell research partner Dr. Gemma Perry in Australia, investigated whether group chanting could improve both breathing and psychosocial wellbeing for individuals with breathing difficulties. Here’s what they found.

Study 1: Immediate effects of chanting

The first study investigated whether one single 10-minute group chanting session could boost mood and breathing in individuals with and without breathing difficulties. The study included 41 adults with dysfunctional breathing and 25 with normal breathing. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a 10-minute group chanting session or guided relaxation, conducted online via Zoom. Researchers measured mood, flourishing, social connection, non-attachment, autonomy, and breathing function before and after the session. Qualitative interviews were also conducted post-intervention.

The results showed that chanting improved positive mood more than relaxation. Both activities enhanced social connection, reduced negative mood, and increased a sense of flourishing, with stronger effects observed for those who had breathing difficulties. Improvements in breathing function, autonomy, and non-attachment improved similarly across all participants.

These findings suggest that short, simple practices like chanting or relaxation can help support psychological and respiratory health, especially for individuals living with breathing difficulties.

Study 2: Long-term effects of chanting

The second study examined whether a longer, 12-week online chanting program could offer lasting benefits for people with breathing difficulties. A group of 23 participants took part in a weekly one-hour session that included movement warmups and chanting exercises. Before and after the program, participants completed surveys measuring social connection, positive and negative mood, breathing effort and “ego dissolution” — an altered state characterised by a diminution of an individual’s subjective sense of self, often accompanied by a feeling of unity others or the environment.

Over the 12 weeks, participants reported feeling less negative mood and reduced breathing effort. They also experienced stronger feelings of social connection and ego dissolution. Interestingly, positive mood did not show significant improvement. Interviews revealed that group chanting fostered a sense of social connection, community, self-connection, and even spiritual growth for some participants. However, sustaining a regular chanting practice posed a challenge for some, who struggled to integrate it into their daily routines despite recognizing its benefits.

What does this mean?

Overall, this research suggests that group chanting can provide both immediate and long-term benefits for people with breathing difficulties. Chanting may help improve psychosocial wellbeing, reduce the effort needed to breathe, and foster a sense of connection with others. While it’s not a cure, chanting shows promise as a complementary intervention for respiratory and psychological health.