Evaluation of a Yoga Program in Schools

Evaluation of Yoga During School as a Behavioral Prevention Program for Adolescent Health

The purpose of this preliminary study is to evaluate the effects of a yoga-based program on high school students' psychological health. Results will be used to generate specific hypotheses of how yoga may improve adolescent mental health.

Specific Aims:

1. To evaluate the hypothesis that 12 weeks of yoga during physical education will be acceptable by and feasible with high school students. To test Specific Aim 1, outcomes assessed at both Monument Mountain Regional High School and Waltham High School include: feasibility and acceptance.
2. To evaluate the hypothesis that yoga will improve self-and parent-reported psychosocial well-being including affect, mood, stress and anxiety in high school students, relative to control students taking regular physical education. To test Specific Aim 2, both primary outcomes (affect and mood) will be assessed at both schools. Additional psychosocial well-being outcomes assessed at Monument Mountain Regional High School include: life purpose/satisfaction and self-confidence during stress; self-esteem; parent-reported psychological difficulties; perceived stress; and sleep quality. Additional psychosocial well-being outcomes assessed at Waltham High School include: self-esteem; parent-reported psychological difficulties; and sleep quality.
3. To evaluate the hypothesis that yoga will improve self- and parent-reported self-regulatory skills including resilience, mindfulness, emotion regulation, anger expression, self-esteem and self-confidence relative to physical education controls. Self-regulation outcomes assessed at Monument Mountain Regional High School include: resilience; mindfulness; emotion regulation; control of anger expression; bullying; health behaviors; substance use risk factors; and attention. Self-regulation outcomes assessed at Waltham High School include: resilience; mindfulness; emotion regulation; control of anger expression; substance use risk factors; and attention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Registered for physical education class