by Martha Goldstein-Schultz Ph.D. and Gregory M. Kane Ph.D.

Abstract

Objective: Three-quarters of US undergraduate students report moderate to high-stress levels (ACHA, 2020). Recent large-scale studies have found increases in college students’ self-reported anxiety and depression, as well as ADHD, insomnia, OCD and panic attacks (Oswalt et al., 2019). We aim to assess the effect of a Hatha Yoga intervention on students’ anxiety and perceived stress levels.

Participants: Undergraduate students (n= 115, mean age= 19.97) completed scales at baseline and follow-up. Participants were assigned to Hatha Yoga (n= 62) or Health Education (n=53).

Methods: Two instruments, the Perceived Stress Scale and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory, were administered during first week and last week of the course. We compared changes in the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI-21).

Results: In the Yoga group, repeated-measures t-tests indicated that within-group changes were significant from baseline to follow-up. Participants enrolled in Health Education did not report significant change in scores.

Conclusions: This research adds to the existing literature by highlighting university students’ mental health benefits of yoga courses to lower stress and anxiety levels.

Keywords: Yoga, Mindfulness, College Students’ Mental Health, Anxiety, Perceived Stress

Read the article here.

 

Martha Goldstein-Schultz, PhD, is a health, wellness, and mindfulness advocate in higher education. Her research and instructional strategies are student-centered, and focused on health and well-being of young adults in educational settings. Martha is a former High School Teacher, and now a College Professor and Koru Mindfulness Instructor. Martha is an Educational Consultant specializing in building trauma-informed, inclusive learning spaces in K-12 institutions.
Gregory M. Kane is an associate professor in the Department of Business Administration. After completing his graduate degrees in exercise physiology (MA) and sport management (Ph.D.) from the University of Connecticut, Dr. Kane went on to teach courses in sport sociology, research methodology in sport, and leadership and problem solving in sport.