The Effects of Yoga on Stress and Psychological Health Among Employees: An 8- and 16-week Intervention Study
Maddux, Rachel LU ; Daukantaité, Daiva LU and Tellhed, Una LU
(2018)
In Anxiety, Stress and Coping
31(2).
p.121-134
- Abstract
- Background: The stresses of modern work life necessitate effective coping
strategies that are accessible and affordable to the general public. Yoga
has been found to reduce stress in clinical samples, but studies are
needed to examine standard gym yoga classes among functional
individuals.
Objectives: This study investigated the effects of 8- and 16-week gym
yoga on stress and psychological health.
Design and Method: Ninety individuals reporting moderate-to-high stress
were randomly assigned to 16 consecutive weeks of yoga, or to a waitlist
crossover group who did not practice yoga for 8 weeks then practiced
yoga for 8 weeks. Stress and psychological health variables were
assessed at baseline, 8... (More) - Background: The stresses of modern work life necessitate effective coping
strategies that are accessible and affordable to the general public. Yoga
has been found to reduce stress in clinical samples, but studies are
needed to examine standard gym yoga classes among functional
individuals.
Objectives: This study investigated the effects of 8- and 16-week gym
yoga on stress and psychological health.
Design and Method: Ninety individuals reporting moderate-to-high stress
were randomly assigned to 16 consecutive weeks of yoga, or to a waitlist
crossover group who did not practice yoga for 8 weeks then practiced
yoga for 8 weeks. Stress and psychological health variables were
assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks.
Results: Significant reductions in stress and all psychological health
measures were found within the Yoga group over 16 weeks. When
compared to the control group, yoga practitioners showed significant
decreases in stress, anxiety, and general psychological health, and
significant increases in well-being. The group who did not practice yoga
showed significant decreases in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia
after they crossed over and practiced yoga for 8 weeks.
Conclusions: Gym yoga appears to be effective for stress amelioration and
promotion of psychological health among workers experiencing stress. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/0fe25e4a-c7c3-4f49-a442-87e17bf88e1f
- author
- Maddux, Rachel
LU
; Daukantaité, Daiva
LU
and Tellhed, Una
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018-03-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Anxiety, Stress and Coping
- volume
- 31
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 121 - 134
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85034753878
- pmid:29166771
- ISSN
- 1061-5806
- DOI
- 10.1080/10615806.2017.1405261
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0fe25e4a-c7c3-4f49-a442-87e17bf88e1f
- date added to LUP
- 2017-09-21 14:50:08
- date last changed
- 2022-04-01 19:34:52
@article{0fe25e4a-c7c3-4f49-a442-87e17bf88e1f,
abstract = {{Background: The stresses of modern work life necessitate effective coping<br/>strategies that are accessible and affordable to the general public. Yoga<br/>has been found to reduce stress in clinical samples, but studies are<br/>needed to examine standard gym yoga classes among functional<br/>individuals.<br/>Objectives: This study investigated the effects of 8- and 16-week gym<br/>yoga on stress and psychological health.<br/>Design and Method: Ninety individuals reporting moderate-to-high stress<br/>were randomly assigned to 16 consecutive weeks of yoga, or to a waitlist<br/>crossover group who did not practice yoga for 8 weeks then practiced<br/>yoga for 8 weeks. Stress and psychological health variables were<br/>assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks.<br/>Results: Significant reductions in stress and all psychological health<br/>measures were found within the Yoga group over 16 weeks. When<br/>compared to the control group, yoga practitioners showed significant<br/>decreases in stress, anxiety, and general psychological health, and<br/>significant increases in well-being. The group who did not practice yoga<br/>showed significant decreases in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia<br/>after they crossed over and practiced yoga for 8 weeks.<br/>Conclusions: Gym yoga appears to be effective for stress amelioration and<br/>promotion of psychological health among workers experiencing stress.}},
author = {{Maddux, Rachel and Daukantaité, Daiva and Tellhed, Una}},
issn = {{1061-5806}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{03}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{121--134}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Anxiety, Stress and Coping}},
title = {{The Effects of Yoga on Stress and Psychological Health Among Employees: An 8- and 16-week Intervention Study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2017.1405261}},
doi = {{10.1080/10615806.2017.1405261}},
volume = {{31}},
year = {{2018}},
}