Online Isha Upa Yoga for student mental health and well-being during COVID-19: A randomized control trial

Tracy F.H. Chang, Barbara L. Ley, Triya T. Ramburn, Sangeetha Srinivasan, Sepideh Hariri, Pradeep Purandare, Balachundhar Subramaniam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

College students experienced increased stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the effect of brief online Isha Upa Yoga modules on undergraduates' mental health and well-being. Randomized control trial (RCT) with waitlist control crossover (N = 679). The intervention group was instructed to learn and practice the modules daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the 4-week RCT, the control group was instructed to learn and practice the modules for the remaining 8 weeks. Primary outcomes included stress and well-being. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, resilience, positive affect and negative affect. Linear mixed-effects models were used for analyses. Isha Upa Yoga significantly reduced stress (Group [intervention, control] × Time [baseline, Week 4] interaction, p =.009, d =.27) and increased well-being (Group × Time interaction p =.002, d =.32). By the study's end, the intervention and control groups experienced significant improvements in well-being (p <.001, p <.001), stress (p <.001, p <.001), anxiety (p <.001, p <.001), depression (p <.001, p =.004), positive affect (p =.04, p <.001), and negative affect (p <.001, p <.001). Online Isha Upa Yoga shows promise for mitigating the pandemic's negative impact on undergraduates' mental health and improving their well-being.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1408-1428
Number of pages21
JournalApplied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Applied Psychology

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • higher education
  • online
  • stress
  • wellbeing
  • yoga

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