The Naimigen questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) was developed in the 1980s to assess the severity of hyperventilation syndrome, which causes respiratory alkalosis and, as a result, polysystemic functional symptoms. Later, this questionnaire was recommended for use in the diagnosis of dysfunctional breathing. The COVID-19 pandemic provokes anxiety as a stressful event and objectifies the respiratory function, which becomes a favorable ground for the growth of the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in society.

To validate the Naimigen questionnaire in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among the Russian-speaking population.

The author’s socio-demographic questionnaire and the Naimigen Questionnaire (NQ) were used (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3 ±11.4).

The stable reliability of the Alpha-Kronbach coefficients (> 0.877) was revealed for all NQ points. To check the factor structure of the Naimigen questionnaire, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis using the direct Oblimin criterion, which, when explaining 57.3% of the total variance, allowed us to identify 4 factors: respiratory symptoms, paresthesia and gastrointestinal symptoms, tension, derealization.

Checking the reliability and factor structure of the Naimigen questionnaire allows us to reasonably use this questionnaire on a Russian-language sample in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Dysfunctional breathing is a pattern of respiratory movements that do not correspond to the physiological needs of the body and can lead to a series of respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, sensory and neurological symptoms ( Vidotto et al., 2019). The causes of dysfunctional breathing are a combination of biological, psychological and social factors.

To examine the relationship between anxiety and occurrence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We used a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen questionnaire (Van Dixhorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1983). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3 ±11.4)

It was revealed that with a low level of state anxiety (< 35 points), dysfunctional breathing was detected in 4.8% of respondents; while with a borderline level of anxiety (> 60 points) there were at 55.9%. A similar dependence was found for personal anxiety: at a low level (< 35 points), dysfunctional breathing was detected in only 4% of respondents;while at a borderline level of anxiety (> 60 points) at 62.8%.

Dysfunctional breathing can occur among people with high and borderline levels of situational and personal anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results allows us to conclude that dysfunctional breathing and anxiety are not equivalent concepts, although they have a common phenomenological field. The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Dysfunctional breathing is experienced as a feeling of “difficulty in inhaling” and shortness of breat , which may be similar to the symptoms of coronavirus infection (Gavriatopoulou et al., 2020). The conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic create an increased level of anxiety and attention to respiratory sensations, which becomes a favorable ground for the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing.

To examine the relationship of ideas about the pandemic with the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) and the author’s socio-demographic questionnaire were used, which included questions about personal experience of the pandemic. The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3±11.4).

It was found that respondents who are more confident in the danger of coronavirus have more respiratory difficulties (N=517;NQ=19±10.6) compared to those who consider its danger exaggerated (N=454,NQ=15.9±9.2,p=0.000). Respondents who are completely convinced of the absence of a condemnation for COVID-19 disease have less pronounced dysfunctional breathing (N=331,NQ=15.26±9.5), compared to those who sure about it (N=88,NQ=19.16±10.05, p=0.007). Respondents who have relatives ill COVID-19 (N=430) have a higher score on NQ (18.6±10.5), compared with those dont have (N=932, NQ=17.1±9.7, p =0.011).

The dysfunctional breathing is associated with the respondents’ beliefs about the danger of coronavirus and the expectation of stigmatization in COVID-19 disease, as well as with the experience of COVID-19 disease among relatives.

Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Dysfunctional breathing is a breathing patterns that do not correspond to the physiological needs of the body, provoke many poly-systemic symptoms. Dysfunctional breathing is experienced as a feeling of “difficulty in breathing”, which in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic may be similar to the symptoms of coronavirus infection (Taverne et al., 2021).

To examine the role of socio-demographic predictors in the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The author’s socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985), the STAI (Spielberger et al., 1983) and the “Perceived Stress Scale-10” (Cohen,Kamarck,Mermelstein,1983) were used. The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia (38.3 ±11.4 y.o.).

In men, the average values for NQ (11.19±7.74) are lower than among women (18.73±9.96, p=0.000). Persons with incomplete higher education have a higher score on NQ (N=103,NQ=20.44±11.8) than persons with higher education (N=1051,NQ= 17.40±9.63,p=0.048) and candidates/doctors of sciences (N=97,NQ= 15.34±11.20,p=0.005). There was also a connection between the severity of dysfunctional breathing and the level of income, which is associated with a negative correlation between income level and perception of stress (r=-0.215,p=0.000), state (r=-0.165,p=0.000) and trait anxiety (r=-0.127,p=0.000).

The severity of dysfunctional breathing is associated with gender, income levels and education, what can be used to identify a group of people who are most susceptible to the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing during the pandemic COVID-19. The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No.21-18-00624.

The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Dysfunctional breathing is experienced as “difficulty in inhaling” and is similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 (Gavriatopoulou et al., 2020), which justifies the relevance of studying this phenomenon in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To identifiy a relationship between self-management styles and the severity of dysfunctional breathing in the uninfected COVID-19 population of Russia.

The author used the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) and J. Kuhl’s and A. Fuhrman’s Self-Government Test (Kool, Furman, 1998; Kul, Kvirin, Kool, 2020). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia (38.3 ±11.4y.o.).

The components are Self-regulation (r = -0.454, p = 0.000) and Self-Control (r =-0.197, p=0.000). There is also a component of Will Development (r=-0,297, p = 0,000) and Sensitivity to oneself (r=-0,480, p=0,000). It is important to note that dysfunctional breathing has a strong positive correlation with the component of life stress experiencing (=0.335, p=0.000). At the same time, the components of Self-regulation and Self-sensitivity have large correlation coefficients, which indicates their greater role.

People with low self-regulation and self-control, as well as with less expressed will and sensitivity to themselves, are more likely to have dysfunctional breathing and a more pronounced experience of life stress in a pandemic. The described components can be used as “targets” for individualized psychotherapy of dysfunctional breathing in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

The study was carried out with the support of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

The COVID-19 pandemic situation creates specific conditions for increased anxiety and increased attention to respiratory sensations. This can become a favorable ground for the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing. Dysfunctional breathing is a pattern of breathing that does not meet physiological needs and can lead to respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive disorders and neurological dysfunctions (Chaitow et al.,2014)

The aim of the study is to identify “personality predictors” for the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The author’s socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (VanDixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1984), HEXACO-PI-R (Ashton, Lee, 2017; Egorova, Psrshikova, Mitina, 2019), and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983; Leonova, 2013) were used. The study was conducted online from April 27 to May 27. 582 people from all regions of Russia attended it, including 496 women and 86 men aged 18 to 64 years.

Dysfunctional breathing has a direct correlation with personal anxiety (r=0.543, p=0.000) and emotionality (r=0.370,p=0.000), as well as a negative correlation with the personality traits of Honesty/ Humility(r=-0.153, p=0.000), Extraversion (r=-0.247, p=0.000), Agreeableness (r=-0.226, p=0.000), and Conscientiousness (r=-0.128, p=0.002).

Thus, in the COVID-19 pandemic context, dysfunctional breathing was detected in people with increased trait anxiety and pronounced emotionality, as well as in people with hostility and low conscientiousness/organization, as well as in introverts and those who are inclined to demonstrate social status. The occurrence of dysfunctional breathing during a pandemic can be interpreted as a sign of coronavirus disease by those people, which can motivate them to seek medical help, and thus increase the burden on the healthcare system.