Eligibility
- Age 18 or older
- Currently enrolled as a college student
- Identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC)
- Little-to-no prior experience with meditation or breathwork
- Not currently receiving mental health treatment
- Reports elevated anxiety or stress symptoms
- Does not report medical contraindications for breathwork (e.g., heart disease, history of seizures, active pregnancy)
- Owns an iPhone with internet access
- Willing to download and use a stress-management app for a 2-week program
- Willing to complete brief daily surveys (~5–10 minutes) for 2 weeks and receive daily reminders/texts
Purpose
The Breathwork for Healing study aims to understand how brief, app-delivered breathwork exercises can support stress and anxiety management among BIPOC college students (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color). This focus group offers participants a short preview of the upcoming 14-day breathwork pilot program, allowing us to gather early feedback before launching the full study. All activities are completed virtually from the comfort of your home.
Involvement
During the 90-minute Zoom session, participants will:
- Complete brief surveys on stress, mood, and well-being before and after the session
- Try four short guided breathwork exercises (1–5 minutes each) drawn from the first days of the 14-day program
- Share feedback on how satisfying, engaging, or challenging each exercise felt
- Join a short group discussion about potential barriers and facilitators to participating in the full two-week program
Benefits
Participants who complete the session will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card as a thank-you for their time. Additionally, participants may find the breathwork exercises helpful for stress and anxiety management (not guaranteed).
Contact
Fill out our brief 5-10 minute pre-screening survey here: https://tinyurl.com/breathwork4healing-focus-group
Questions? Reach out to our study team via email: breathwork4healingstudy@gmail.com
IRB Expire Date: N/A
PI Email: mahajalsuwaidi@g.ucla.edu
- PI: Maha Al-Suwaidi
- IRB Number: IRB #23-003601
- IRB Expire Date: January 1, 2027