Changes in Anxiety Levels Following Diaphragmatic Deep Breathing Relaxation Among Institutionalized Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Anxiety is a common problem among older adults and can negatively affect their quality of life. Deep breathing relaxation is a simple, safe, and non-pharmacological intervention that may help reduce anxiety. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing among older adults living in nursing homes remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of deep breathing relaxation techniques on anxiety levels among older adults at Dharma Bhakti Kasih Nursing Home, Surakarta. Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted on 30 older adults selected through purposive sampling. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS). Data were analyzed using the Paired Sample T-test and Cohen’s d to analyze the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: Most participants were female (73.3%), aged 75–90 years (56.7%), had secondary education (60%), and had no comorbidities (63.6%). Following the intervention, the proportion of participants with mild anxiety increased from 60% to 86.7%, while moderate anxiety decreased to 13.3%. A significant reduction in anxiety levels was observed after the intervention (p < 0.001), with a moderate effect size (Cohen's d = 0.478). Conclusion: The deep breathing relaxation techniques significantly reduce anxiety levels among older adults and can be recommended as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for anxiety management.