Transformational Effects of Holotropic Breathwork® in Practitioners’ Orientation and Mental Well-Being: Correlational Study

Abstract

This study explored the transformational aspects of Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness (NOSC) induced through Holotropic Breathwork® (HB) practice by examining the correlations between number and period of HB practice and scores on mental health and self-actualization levels, measured by the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI); meaning and purposefulness in life, measured by the Purpose in Life test (PIL); and quality of life, measured by the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), respectively. The number of HB practice represents how many HB sessions a practitioner has experienced; period of HB practice indicates how long a practitioner has been practicing HB. The study employed a quantitative correlative method to address the research problem and discover the usefulness of the intervention and associated factors. Correlations were assessed using a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (N = 119). Results showed that both independent variables, period and number of HB practice, were significantly positively correlated with all dependent variables (PIL, QOLS, and POI), with the exception of 2 out of 12 POI subscales. The correlation between number of practice and the scales signified positive correlation of PIL (r = .362, p ≤ .0036) and QOLS (r = .388, p ≤ .0036). Out of 12 POI subscales’ correlation, 11 ranged from .244 to .415. Similarly, period of practice and scales were significantly positively correlated. Both PIL and QOLS were significant at the .0036 level with a positive correlation of .330 and .342. For POI, one of 2 major subscales, IDS (Inner Directed; r = .376, p ≤ .0036) was shown to be significantly positively correlated.