Impact of a Yoga Intervention on Physical Activity, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation in Women with PTSD Symptoms

Abstract

Background: Studies using yoga have demonstrated initial efficacy for treating symptoms across anxiety disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder. Objective: Understanding how interventions influence participants' physical activity and what determinants affect continued physical activity behavior change is important because maintenance of the behavior may be critical to continued mental health gains and symptom reduction. Methods: This study investigated change in physical activity and possible psychological mechanisms of physical activity behavior change, including self-efficacy and regulatory motivation, in a randomized controlled trial of yoga for women with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (n = 38). Results: Growth curve modeling results showed no significant changes in physical activity or self-efficacy for either group, whereas external motivation decreased significantly in the yoga group but not in the control group. Conclusions: Investigators of future yoga interventions may want to focus on increasing self-efficacy and internal regulatory motivation, so that physical activity and resultant symptom relief can be maintained.

The current state of physical activity and exercise programs in German-speaking, Swiss psychiatric hospitals: results from a brief online survey

“…All respondents reported that they felt that participation in PEAPs impacted favorably on patients’ psychological status. While anecdotal, this observation is in line with the increasing wealth of studies showing a favorable influence of PAEPs on a broad variety of psychiatric disorders, 1 – 7 such as MDDs, 6 , 8 , 9 schizophrenia, 10 , 11 PTSD, 12 , 13 alcohol abuse, 14 , 15 sleep disorders, 16 or autism spectrum disorders. 17 …”

“…There is both growing recognition and scientific evidence that interventions of physical activity and exercise programs (PAEPs) have a favorable impact on patients with psychiatric disorders. 1 – 7 These findings have been reported among groups of patients with major depressive disorders (MDDs), 6 , 8 , 9 schizophrenia, 10 , 11 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 12 , 13 alcohol abuse, 14 , 15 sleep disorders, 16 or autism spectrum disorders. 17 The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of PA on psychological functioning and wellbeing are complex, although there is increasing evidence that regular, acute, and chronic PA does have an impact at the molecular level 18 , 19 and on brain plasticity.…”

Effects of yoga on oxidative stress, motor function, and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial

“…Overall, participants were not more physically active after practicing yoga. This finding is consistent with previous reports in adults with or at risk for type II diabetes [ 38 ] and women with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder [ 39 ] but contradicts a report in women with multiple sclerosis [ 40 ]. It is uncertain whether participants in the treatment group had a lower energy level or they substituted their regular physical activity with yoga.…”

Динамика Изменения Физической Подготовленности Студентов Во Время Занятий Физической Культурой И После Их Прекращения

“…Увеличение физической подготовленно-сти девушек, занимающихся йогой, по указанным показателям, вероятно, связано с улучшением ко-ординации движений, укреплением/увеличением подвижности суставов, увеличением растяжимо-сти связок мышц, увеличением поясничной гиб-кости, редукцией веса, увеличением тренирован-ности мышц, включая мускулатуру, участвую-щую в дыхании [6,12,13,15]. Имеются зарубеж-ные исследования, которые показывают, что за-нятия йогой повышают мотивацию к ведению здорового образа жизни [10,11,14].…”