Association of yogic breathing with perceived stress and conception of strengths and difficulties in teenagers

Effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) on the stress and self-esteem of medical doctors in a tertiary care hospital: a prospective analytical study

Objectives

Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a unique yoga practice incorporated into the Art of Living course. It is found to have a beneficial effect on different psychiatric disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of SKY practice on stress and self-esteem among medical doctors.

Materials and methods

A prospective study was conducted among medical doctors (interns, residents, and consultants) in a tertiary care center. The Perceived Stress Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used for the assessment of stress and self-esteem levels, respectively. The parameters were assessed at baseline, 3-day and 40-day follow-up of SKY practice. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25.

Results

A total of 58 participants were included in the study. The scores for stress decreased (19.07 to 18.62 to 16.33) and self-esteem levels increased (19.09 to 19.64 to 20.81) after the practice signifying the beneficial impact. It was statistically significant (P<0.05) with considerable effect sizes (Cohen's d 0.2-0.5 and >0.5 for self-esteem and stress levels, respectively). On MANOVA, gender (more in male participants) was significantly associated with stress levels even after the practice of SKY (P=0.042).

Conclusion

Amid the hectic schedule, regular practice of SKY is proven beneficial for medical doctors with its positive impact on stress, and self-esteem levels by our study.

A feasibility (pilot) mixed methods study of an innovative non-pharmacological breath-based yoga and social-emotional intervention program in an at-risk youth sample in London, Canada

BACKGROUND

Various service provision models for youth at risk of homelessness have been researched and implemented, including access to housing and physical and mental health resources. However, even with these interventions, we remain unaware of how best to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety and the rate of drug use in these populations primarily because of a lack of feasibility data.

METHODS

This paper presents the results of a mixed-methods study in London, Canada, that examined the feasibility of implementing a biopsychosocial intervention, SKY Schools, in at-risk youth aged between 16 and 25 (n = 49). The study also recorded qualitative responses about the program's usefulness from the perspective of the service users. The SKY Schools intervention consisted of social-emotional learning combined with Sudarshan Kriya Yoga, a standardized yoga-based breathing exercise routine. The intervention program was divided into two phases: an active learning phase and a reinforcement phase. The following feasibility outcome measures were collected: (1) the number of potential participants approached per month, (2) number (proportion) who were successfully screened, (3) the proportion of screened participants who enrolled, (4) the rate of retention in the study, (5) rate of adherence to study protocol, (6) proportion of planned ratings that were completed, (7) intervention cost per case, (8) completeness of final data for analysis, (9) length of time to collect all data, (10) quality of all collected data, (11) determining if partnering community organizations were willing to conduct the study as per study protocol, (12) determining if there were any capacity issues with partners providing intervention and investigators being able to perform the tasks that they were committed to doing, (13) determining if there were any problems of entering the data into a computer, (14) preliminary data about the safety of the intervention, and (15) preliminary estimate of treatment effects.

RESULTS

All feasibility outcome measures were collectible. In the city of London, Canada it was feasible to conduct a pilot study in this population of youth at risk of homelessness. Foremost among the findings was a high retention rate (61.2%) and overall positive qualitative feedback with a number of potential suggestions to improve the delivery and quality of the intervention. However, we had a significantly low recruitment rate (0.27 participants per week) suggesting that multiple sites will be needed to achieve an adequate sample size for a subsequent definitive trial.

CONCLUSIONS

Future researchers may consider the findings of this feasibility study when designing a randomized control trial to further assess the efficacy and tolerability of SKY Schools.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02749240. Registered April 22, 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02749240 .

The positive effects of combined breathing techniques and cold exposure on perceived stress: a randomised trial

A pranayama-inspired breathing technique, cold exposure, and their combined application were assessed for their potential to reduce perceived stress in adults and compared to a control group. An experiment involving four groups was conducted, yielding separate cells for breathing technique-only and cold exposure-only, as well as a combined treatment and a control group. Eighty-six individuals participated in the study. Perceived stress is measured employing the 10-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the 20-item version of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). The instruments exhibit a substantial correlation (r = 0.842, p < 0.001). The combined group exhibited a medium to large positive effect on perceived stress compared to the control group. The breathing technique and cold exposure on their own were not found to yield substantial effects, indicating synergies between both exercises. Combinations of breathing techniques and cold exposure may be employed to decrease individuals' perceived stress.