Effect of mindfulness and yoga on quality of life for elementary school students and teachers: results of a randomized controlled school-based study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of a yoga curriculum in an elementary school on student quality of life, and to assess teacher and staff perception of potential barriers to, and benefits of, introducing yoga and mindfulness into the classroom.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was utilized to assess the impact of a brief intervention on third-grade students who screened positive for symptoms of anxiety. Students were randomized to an intervention group of 20 students receiving small-group yoga/mindfulness activities for 8 weeks between October 2016 and February 2017, and a control group of 32 students receiving care as usual. The Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale-Peabody Treatment Progress Battery and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) served as outcomes. Teachers were invited to participate in two professional development sessions about introducing yoga and mindfulness into the classroom, and completed a survey following each of the sessions.ResultsIn generalized estimating equation models adjusted for time, the yoga-based intervention was associated with a 14.17 unit increase in student emotional PedsQL (p-value 0.001) and a 7.43 unit increase in psychosocial PedsQL (p-value 0.01). Results were not attenuated by adjustment. Teachers and staff reported using yoga more frequently in the classroom following the second of two professional development sessions (p-value <0.05). Perceived barriers to introducing yoga to the classroom were similar at two data collection time points, while perceived benefits remained high.ConclusionThe intervention was associated with a significant improvement in emotional and psychosocial quality of life in the intervention group when compared to the control group, suggesting that yoga/mindfulness interventions may improve symptoms of anxiety among students. Yoga/mindfulness activities may facilitate stress management among elementary school students and may be added as a complement to social and emotional learning activities.

12 Weeks of Kindergarten-Based Yoga Practice Increases Visual Attention, Visual-Motor Precision and Decreases Behavior of Inattention and Hyperactivity in 5-Year-Old Children

“…Previous research demonstrated that a sensorimotor training program for children leads to the reduction of behavioral problems (Eggert and Lütje, 1991) and ameliorates anger control and anxiety (Khalsa et al, 2012), factors that potentially interfere with academic achievement and psychosocial well-being. Furthermore, classroom-based yoga leads to a significant improvement in emotional and psychosocial quality of life and reduced anxiety in third-grade students (Bazzano et al, 2018). Additionally, Noggle et al (2012) reported that school-based yoga in high school students caused increases in measures of psychosocial well-being in comparison with the regular PE.…”

“…Yoga is suggested to be an effective sensory-motor training for children to reduce behavioral and emotional problems and improve cognitive functions which might have a positive impact on academic performance (Chaya et al, 2012; Chou and Huang, 2017; Bazzano et al, 2018; Cohen et al, 2018). Recent studies demonstrated that yoga is one intervention with the potential to increase attention and academic performance in children (Chaya et al, 2012; Khalsa et al, 2012; Noggle et al, 2012; Chou and Huang, 2017) and adolescents (Khalsa et al, 2012; Noggle et al, 2012; Purohit and Pradhan, 2016).…”

School Bullying Among Left-Behind Children: The Efficacy of Art Therapy on Reducing Bullying Victimization

“…The modified Brief Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale-Peabody Treatment Progress Battery (BMSLSS-PTPB: Youth) was used to assess the children's school life satisfaction (29, 30). The scale is composed of 13 items scored on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree), and a total score is calculated by summing the 13 items.…”

Leisure Motivation and Satisfaction: A Text Mining of Yoga Centres, Yoga Consumers, and Their Interactions

“…Consequently, literatures regarding yogi satisfaction can unfold only from yoga practitioner perspectives instead of through a yoga consumer lens. Yoga practitioners' satisfaction results from improved physical and mental health [62], body image promotion [63], enhanced sexual function [64], and consequent better quality of personal and professional life [65][66][67]. Moreover, Hoyez [68] investigated the effect of therapeutic landscape on yogi satisfaction, which is mediated by sense of holiness, emotional qualities, intimate feelings, health, and wellbeing.…”