The rise in popularity of health practices such as yoga coincides with a period of
growing publicity about the benefits of promoting positive health from an early age. Despite
this, empirical research in the field is limited. Thus, the aim of the current study was to
assess the psychological and physiological impact of a brief yoga program for children
using a randomised placebo-control design. Twenty-two school-girls aged 8-10 were
recruited to take part in a 6-session after-school program. Participants were randomly
allocated to either yoga classes or recreation classes. Heart rate change and respiration rate
were measured pre-post program as physiological indicators of relaxation. For mental
wellbeing, pre- and post-session mood and pre- and post-program self-esteem and physical
self-worth variables were assessed. Later, a replication study was conducted where yoga
was offered to the former recreation group.
Contrary to expectations, no significant changes were found on the physiological
indicators of relaxation. Global self-esteem and physical self-worth variables also remained
constant in both the yoga and recreation groups. As hypothesised, significant reductions in
anxious mood were consistently reported from the second session onwards following yoga
classes. Contrary to expectations however, depressed mood remained unchanged in either
group. Results of the follow-up study confirmed most of the findings of the main study,
except for a small improvement on the physical self-worth variable of self-perceived sports
competency, and no significant post-session mood changes. Nonetheless qualitative data
suggested that this group also experienced anxiety reduction following yoga practice.
The results of the project remain speculative because of the small sample size and
generous criteria used to determine statistical significance. Despite this, it was concluded
that while brief yoga programs might have little impact on children�s overall self-esteem or
physical self- perceptions, especially where children are physically active and already enjoy
moderate to high levels of self-esteem, yoga classes may contribute to reductions in
immediate anxiety levels. While the ability to relax voluntarily was not demonstrated by the
end of program, it was suggested that a longer yoga program which incorporated more overt
teaching of relaxation skills might produce such a result. This and other recommendations
for future research are presented and the implications for the understanding of positive
health are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/216536 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Crowley, Anna, anna.crowley@arafemi.org.au |
| Publisher | Swinburne University of Technology. |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.swin.edu.au/), Copyright Anna Crowley |
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