Effect of Mindfulness and Yoga on Quality of Life for Elementary School Students and Teachers: Results of a Randomized Controlled School-based Study

Overview

Journal Psychol Res Behav Manag

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2018 Apr 27

PMID 29695937

Citations 16

Authors

Alessandra N Bazzano

Christopher E Anderson

Chelsea Hylton

Jeanette Gustat

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To 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.

Methods: A 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.

Results: In generalized estimating equation models adjusted for time, the yoga-based intervention was associated with a 14.17 unit increase in student emotional PedsQL (-value 0.001) and a 7.43 unit increase in psychosocial PedsQL (-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 (-value <0.05). Perceived barriers to introducing yoga to the classroom were similar at two data collection time points, while perceived benefits remained high.

Conclusion: The 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.

Citing Articles

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Acceptability, usability, and credibility of a mindfulness-based digital therapeutic for pediatric concussion: A mixed-method study.

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Rural sixth-grade teachers' and students' perceptions of a mindfulness-based mental health curriculum.

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Yoga and Mindfulness for Social-Emotional Development and Resilience in 3-5 Year-Old Children: Non-Randomized, Controlled Intervention.

Bazzano A, Sun Y, Zu Y, Fleckman J, Blackson E, Patel T Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023; 16:109-118.

PMID: 36660255 PMC: 9844140. DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S385413.

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