Development of the Beliefs About Yoga Scale

Abstract

Beliefs about yoga may influence participation in yoga and outcomes of yoga interventions. There is currently no scale appropriate for assessing these beliefs in the general U.S. population. This study took the first steps in developing and validating a Beliefs About Yoga Scale (BAYS) to assess beliefs about yoga that may influence people's engagement in yoga interventions. Items were generated based on previously published research about perceptions of yoga and reviewed by experts within the psychology and yoga communities. 426 adult participants were recruited from an urban medical center to respond to these items. The mean age was 40.7 (SD = 13.5) years. Participants completed the BAYS and seven additional indicators of criterion-related validity. The BAYS demonstrated internal consistency (11 items; α = 0.76) and three factors emerged: expected health benefits, expected discomfort, and expected social norms. The factor structure was confirmed: x2 (41, n = 213) = 72.06, p < .001; RMSEA =.06, p = .23. Criterion-related validity was supported by positive associations of the BAYS with past experiences and future intentions related to yoga. This initial analysis of the BAYS demonstrated that it is an adequately reliable and valid measure of beliefs about yoga with a three-factor structure. However, the scale may need to be modified based on the population to which it is applied.

Why practice yoga? Practitioners’ motivations for adopting and maintaining yoga practice

“…In fact, people typically reported an average of four reasons for beginning, which suggests that even beginners see yoga as a practice with the potential to affect many dimensions of their lives. These perceptions of potential benefit may not only influence people’s inclination to begin practicing yoga but also the effects they perceive as a result of their practice (Sohl et al, 2011). It would be interesting to know where people acquire their ideas about what yoga is and what it might bring to their lives.…”

Enhancing Access to Yoga for Older Male Veterans After Cancer: Examining Beliefs About Yoga

“…The Beliefs About Yoga Scale (BAYS) was used to measure beliefs about the outcomes of engaging in yoga. 28 The 11-item scale has 3 factors: expected health benefits (5 items), expected discomfort (3 items), and expected social norms (3 items). Items from the expected discomfort and expected social norms are reverse scored so that a higher score indicates more positive beliefs.…”

“…Beliefs about yoga may include beliefs about yoga improving health, yoga being difficult or producing discomfort, and yoga involving specific social norms. 28 For example, confidence in one' s ability to perform yoga despite discomfort predicted class attendance and practice in a sample of 32 breast cancer survivors. 29 Relatedly, positive beliefs about the impact of yoga on health were associated with improvements in mood and quality of life in a sample of 66 cancer survivors.…”

Relax while you rehabilitate: A pilot study integrating a novel, yoga-based mindfulness group intervention into a residential military brain injury rehabilitation program.

“…Participants also provided quantitative, self-report information regarding their beliefs about the potential benefits of mindfulness/yoga. These questions were based on the structure and content of the Beliefs About Yoga Scale (BAYS) developed by Sohl, Schnur, Daly, Suslov, and Montgomery (2011). The BAYS has been validated in a general, This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.…”