Effects of Pranayama Breathing Technique on Stress Level, Sleep Quality, and Quality of Life Among Older Adults

Aging is associated with progressive tissue deterioration resulting from a continuous decline in the ability to renew homeostatic cell regeneration and replace cells lost during tissue damage. Biological aging arises from the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage over time. This condition leads to a gradual decline in physical and cognitive capacity, causing an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. These non-linear and inconsistent changes are linked more to lifestyle than to chronological age. Rather than biological changes, the fact that aging is often associated with other life transitions such as retirement, the death of friends and partners, and a decline in living standards indicates that the diversity observed in old age is not random. In the aging process where individuals face various physical, mental, and social changes; problems such as stress, sleep issues, and reduced quality of life are among the commonly encountered situations that negatively affect the life satisfaction and quality of life of elderly individuals. Alongside modern medicine, the use of traditional and complementary practices has been reported to have positive effects on the health of elderly individuals. This study was planned as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of the pranayama breathing technique applied to elderly individuals on stress levels, sleep, and quality of life.