Date Presented 04/05/19
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of yoga on stress and anxiety levels within the OT college student population compared to a matched control group performing physical exercise alone. Findings supported the use of yoga as a stress-reduction tool. This research aligns with previously reported literature stating that yoga has a positive impact in reducing stress levels and suggests that academic programs implement scheduled stress management curricula for students.
Primary Author and Speaker: BrieLynn Sturm
Additional Authors and Speakers: Melinda Cozzolino
Contributing Authors: Sebastian Harenberg
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of yoga on stress and anxiety levels within the senior year and first year graduate occupational therapy program when compared to physical exercise alone. Recent literature reported the effects of yoga on both physical and mental health as beneficial (Kauts & Sharma, 2009; Novotney, 2009). Research on these effects related specifically to college aged occupational therapy students is limited.
METHOD: The study used an unblinded, randomized-controlled pilot study design. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental (i.e., yoga) or control (i.e. no yoga, independent physical fitness). Participants (N =11) completed an 8 week yoga program or independent physical fitness program. Participants were administered the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Cohen & Williamson, 1988), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults Form Y (Spielberger, 1989), prior to beginning and at the conclusion of the 8 weeks. In addition to these standardized assessments, participants completed weekly stress scales and were asked open-ended questions during each week of the study to ascertain their feelings of stress, the program, and overall well-being. Given the exploratory nature of the study and limited sample size, a non-hypothesis testing approach was chosen. Rather, the effects of yoga on each time point of the study were examined by calculating bias-corrected Hedges’ g and represented in a Forest plot.
RESULTS: Data analysis of additional weekly stress scales showed that yoga had a positive effect during preparation for and decompressing from stressful situations throughout the 8 week period compared to the students who completed the independent physical fitness program.
The results of calculating a pooled effect size analysis of all the effect sizes, excluding pretest responses indicate the yoga intervention helps to reduce perceived stress.
CONCLUSION: The sample size of this study was small, limiting the generalizability to a greater population. Yet, this research aligns with previous reported literature in that yoga clearly has a positive impact in reducing stress levels and suggests academic programs implement prolonged teachings of stress management techniques for student use. Implementing stress reduction programs provide students the opportunity of learning by doing and assists them to develop healthy personal and professional habits and routines.
References
Novotney, A. (2009). Yoga as a practice tool. Monitor on Psychology, 40(10), 38. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/11/yoga.aspx
Kauts, A., & Sharma, N. (2009). Effect of yoga on academic performance in relation to stress. International Journal of Yoga, 2(1), 39-43. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.53860
Spielberger, D. D. (1989). State-trait anxiety inventory: Bibliography (2 ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988). Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States. In S. Spacapan & S. Oskamp (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Health. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
