EFFECT OF YOGA-BASED INTERVENTION ON STRESS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL
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University students are particularly vulnerable to stress due to academic demands, social pressures, and transitional life challenges. Chronic stress among this population can adversely affect academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. Yoga, a holistic practice combining physical postures, breath control, and mindfulness, is increasingly recognized as a non-pharmacological intervention for stress reduction. However, limited evidence exists from randomized controlled trials specifically evaluating the impact of breath awareness within yoga practices among students.
Methods
Introduction
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 university students aged 18–25 years with moderate to high perceived stress levels (PSS-10 score ≥14). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: yoga with breath awareness (n=30) or yoga without breath awareness (n=30). Both groups underwent a structured yoga intervention consisting of loosening exercises, asanas, pranayama, and relaxation over 30 consecutive days, five days per week, with each session lasting 45 minutes. Stress levels were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Statistical analyses included paired and unpaired t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results
Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in perceived stress scores following the intervention. The yoga with breath awareness group showed a mean stress reduction of 4.43 points (19.25%, p=0.0001), while the yoga without breath awareness group showed a reduction of 4.20 points (18.42%, p=0.0026). However, inter-group comparisons revealed no statistically significant difference in stress reduction between the two groups (p=0.8730), suggesting comparable efficacy.
Conclusion
A 30-day structured yoga intervention effectively reduced perceived stress levels in university students, irrespective of breath awareness. Although the group practicing yoga with breath awareness exhibited slightly greater stress reduction, the difference was not statistically significant. These findings support the use of yoga as an accessible, non-pharmacological strategy for stress management in university populations. Future research with larger sample sizes, extended duration, and incorporation of physiological markers is warranted to further explore the role of breath-focused practices.
