Evaluating a Yoga-Based Intervention on Mindful Awareness and Stress Reactivity
Keywords:
Yoga intervention, Mindful awareness, Stress reactivity, Randomized controlled trialAbstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an eight-session yoga-based intervention in enhancing mindful awareness and reducing stress reactivity among adults in Kenya. A randomized controlled trial design was employed with 30 adult participants randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15), which received the yoga intervention, or a control group (n = 15). The intervention consisted of weekly 60–75-minute sessions over eight weeks, integrating yoga postures, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices. Standardized measurement tools—the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)—were administered at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27. Results indicated a significant increase in mindful awareness in the experimental group compared to the control group over time (F(2, 56) = 18.52, p < .001, η² = .407), with sustained effects at follow-up. Similarly, stress reactivity significantly decreased in the experimental group relative to controls (F(2, 56) = 16.73, p < .001, η² = .374), and the improvements persisted at five-month follow-up. Bonferroni post-hoc tests confirmed significant differences between pre-test and post-test, as well as pre-test and follow-up, for both variables (all p < .001). The findings suggest that a structured yoga-based intervention can significantly improve mindful awareness and reduce stress reactivity in adults, with effects maintained over time. These results support the integration of yoga and mindfulness practices into mental health and wellness programs, especially in low-resource settings.
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