Yogic Breathing and Mindfulness as Stress-Coping Mediate Positive Health Outcomes of Yoga
Tellhed, Una LU
; Daukantaité, Daiva
LU
; Maddux, Rachel
LU
; Svensson, Thomas
LU
and Melander, Olle
LU
(2019)
In Mindfulness
10(12).
p.2703-2715
- Abstract
- Objectives
Despite accumulating research on yoga and its positive impact on both physiological and psychological health, it is still unclear how yoga improves health. Two central components of yoga, yogic breathing and mindfulness, may be important mechanisms by which individuals learn to cope with their daily stressors, and thereby reduce their risk of developing stress-related illness. In this study, we experimentally tested whether yogic breathing as a stress coping mechanism and increased mindfulness mediates the psychological health benefits of a yoga intervention
Methods
Seventy-one middle-aged adults (78% women; Mage 53.5 ± 6.9) who self-rated as moderately stressed were randomly assigned to either a control... (More) - Objectives
Despite accumulating research on yoga and its positive impact on both physiological and psychological health, it is still unclear how yoga improves health. Two central components of yoga, yogic breathing and mindfulness, may be important mechanisms by which individuals learn to cope with their daily stressors, and thereby reduce their risk of developing stress-related illness. In this study, we experimentally tested whether yogic breathing as a stress coping mechanism and increased mindfulness mediates the psychological health benefits of a yoga intervention
Methods
Seventy-one middle-aged adults (78% women; Mage 53.5 ± 6.9) who self-rated as moderately stressed were randomly assigned to either a control group or a 5-week yoga intervention called the Yoga and Mindfulness Intervention (YOMI) program. The YOMI combines 60 min of yin yoga practice with 30 min of psychoeducation, administered twice weekly; participants also completed a 5-min breathing exercise as homework daily.
Results
The YOMI group showed greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and sleep problems compared with controls (R2 varied between .09 to .23), and these reductions were statistically mediated by increased use of yogic breathing and a related increase in participants’ overall mindfulness.
Conclusions
These mediation results provide new insights into how yoga improves psychological health and suggests promising implications for policymakers aimed at improving public health. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Objectives. Despite accumulating research on yoga and its positive impact on both physiological and psychological health, it is still unclear how yoga improves health. Two central components of yoga: yogic breathing and mindfulness, may be important mechanisms by which individuals learn to cope with their daily stressors, and thereby reduce their risk of developing stress-related illness. In this study, we experimentally tested whether yogic breathing as a stress coping mechanism and increased mindfulness mediates the psychological health benefits of a yoga intervention
Methods. Seventy-one middle-aged adults (78% women; Mage 53.5 ± 6.9) who self-rated as moderately stressed were randomly assigned to either a control group or a... (More) - Objectives. Despite accumulating research on yoga and its positive impact on both physiological and psychological health, it is still unclear how yoga improves health. Two central components of yoga: yogic breathing and mindfulness, may be important mechanisms by which individuals learn to cope with their daily stressors, and thereby reduce their risk of developing stress-related illness. In this study, we experimentally tested whether yogic breathing as a stress coping mechanism and increased mindfulness mediates the psychological health benefits of a yoga intervention
Methods. Seventy-one middle-aged adults (78% women; Mage 53.5 ± 6.9) who self-rated as moderately stressed were randomly assigned to either a control group or a five-week yoga intervention called the Yoga and Mindfulness Intervention (YOMI) program. The YOMI combines 60 minutes of yin yoga practice with 30 minutes of psychoeducation, administered twice weekly; participants also completed a 5-minute breathing exercise as homework daily.
Results. The YOMI group showed greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and sleep problems compared to controls (R2 varied between .09 to .23), and these reductions were statistically mediated by increased use of yogic breathing and a related increase in participants’ overall mindfulness.
Conclusions. These mediation results provide new insights into how yoga improves psychological health and suggests promising implications for policymakers aimed at improving public health.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/41745d5c-6a6b-44f4-93b3-c3ff18f13ef1
- author
- Tellhed, Una
LU
; Daukantaité, Daiva
LU
; Maddux, Rachel
LU
; Svensson, Thomas
LU
and Melander, Olle
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2019-11-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Stress coping, Mindfulness, Breathing, Yoga, Health, Mediation
- in
- Mindfulness
- volume
- 10
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 2703 - 2715
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85074811209
- ISSN
- 1868-8535
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12671-019-01225-4
- project
- The effects of yoga on psychological and physiological health
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 41745d5c-6a6b-44f4-93b3-c3ff18f13ef1
- date added to LUP
- 2019-08-14 10:49:24
- date last changed
- 2024-01-01 17:02:54
@article{41745d5c-6a6b-44f4-93b3-c3ff18f13ef1,
abstract = {{Objectives<br/><br/>Despite accumulating research on yoga and its positive impact on both physiological and psychological health, it is still unclear how yoga improves health. Two central components of yoga, yogic breathing and mindfulness, may be important mechanisms by which individuals learn to cope with their daily stressors, and thereby reduce their risk of developing stress-related illness. In this study, we experimentally tested whether yogic breathing as a stress coping mechanism and increased mindfulness mediates the psychological health benefits of a yoga intervention<br/>Methods<br/><br/>Seventy-one middle-aged adults (78% women; Mage 53.5 ± 6.9) who self-rated as moderately stressed were randomly assigned to either a control group or a 5-week yoga intervention called the Yoga and Mindfulness Intervention (YOMI) program. The YOMI combines 60 min of yin yoga practice with 30 min of psychoeducation, administered twice weekly; participants also completed a 5-min breathing exercise as homework daily.<br/>Results<br/><br/>The YOMI group showed greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and sleep problems compared with controls (R2 varied between .09 to .23), and these reductions were statistically mediated by increased use of yogic breathing and a related increase in participants’ overall mindfulness.<br/>Conclusions<br/><br/>These mediation results provide new insights into how yoga improves psychological health and suggests promising implications for policymakers aimed at improving public health.}},
author = {{Tellhed, Una and Daukantaité, Daiva and Maddux, Rachel and Svensson, Thomas and Melander, Olle}},
issn = {{1868-8535}},
keywords = {{Stress coping; Mindfulness; Breathing; Yoga; Health; Mediation}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{11}},
number = {{12}},
pages = {{2703--2715}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Mindfulness}},
title = {{Yogic Breathing and Mindfulness as Stress-Coping Mediate Positive Health Outcomes of Yoga}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01225-4}},
doi = {{10.1007/s12671-019-01225-4}},
volume = {{10}},
year = {{2019}},
}