Mindful breathing and positive affirmations significantly enhance QoL and reduce body image concerns in women with PCOS: Study
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women in their reproductive years. This condition has various clinical impacts, including reproductive and metabolic issues, psychological effects, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Women with PCOS often experience a reduced quality of life and mental health challenges due to physical symptoms such as infertility and irregular menstrual cycles. Additionally, alterations in physical appearance like obesity, hair loss, and acne, as well as changes in sexual behavior and increased levels of anxiety and depression, further diminish their quality of life and mental well-being. The societal expectations associated with gender roles can exacerbate the negative impact of poor body image, stemming from obesity, acne, and hirsutism. Consequently, these women require comprehensive support from healthcare systems to address the various dimensions of their condition.
One of the significant clinical outcomes of PCOS in women includes various physical and psychological concerns. These concerns, manifesting as cognitive processes, often involve repetitive thoughts and images, themes of anxiety, possible stressful situations, and potentially severe outcomes. Treatments for these worries related to PCOS can be categorized into complementary and pharmaceutical approaches. Non-pharmaceutical methods to mitigate these worries include relaxation techniques, adopting mindfulness, engaging in enjoyable activities, and learning to manage these concerns.
Despite the efficacy of existing interventions, such as hormone treatments for the physical manifestations of PCOS, significant gaps remain in managing its psychological effects. Traditional psychological interventions like Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are well-documented; however, less attention has been given to non-pharmacological, personalized interventions that could significantly improve mental health outcomes. Furthermore, while these interventions, such as mindful breathing and positive affirmations, are noted for their benefits, their specific application and efficacy in women with PCOS require further exploration, especially in non-clinical settings.
The study aimed to evaluate an intervention designed to improve the quality of life and reduce body image concerns among women with PCOS.
This research utilized a pre-test and post-test design with experimental and control groups. The intervention focused on improving quality of life and reducing body image concerns through mindful breathing and positive affirmations. The study involved 20 women with PCOS, randomly assigned to either an experimental group that received the intervention or a control group that did not. Evaluations were conducted before and after the 6-week intervention period.
Pre- and post-test comparisons revealed significant improvements in physical health, psychological state, social relationships, and body image perceptions in the experimental group. The experimental group's mean scores differed significantly from the control group's, affirming the intervention's positive effects.
In summary, the findings from this pilot study offer compelling evidence that mindful breathing and positive affirmations are effective in enhancing body image and quality of life for women with PCOS. The significant improvements observed across various domains highlight the potential of such interventions to enhance psychological and physical well-being. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to addressing the multifaceted nature of body image and quality of life issues in women with PCOS.
Source: Yukti and Rathore / Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research 2025;12(2):249–257
