iRest Yoga-Nidra on the College Campus: Changes in Stress, Depression, Worry, and Mindfulness

Abstract

Objectives: There is evidence that yoga practice is associated with decreased stress, worry, and depression, and with improved mindfulness-based skills. These findings had not been previously replicated for a sample of college students. This study evaluated whether iRest yoga-nidra practice was associated with reduced perceived stress, worry, and depression, and increased mindfulness in a sample of college student s. Methods: Sixty-six students age 18-56 completed an 8-week iRest yoga-nidra intervention that was offered for 8 semesters. Assessment occurred 1 week prior to intervention onset and during the class period following the intervention. Qualitative data were collected at Weeks 4 and 8. Results: Statistically significant pre- to posttest improvements in perceived stress, worry, and depression were found. Pre-existing depression accounted for most of the change in worry and perceived stress scores. Pre- to post test improvements in mindfulness-based skills were also detected. Conclusions: iRest yoga-nidra practice may reduce symptoms of perceived stress, worry, and depression and increase mindfulness-based skills.

The Efficacy of Yoga as a Form of Treatment for Depression

“…Studies were carried out in Australia, 8 , 29 India, 10 , 17 , 18 , 28 Iran, 7 , 16 Italy, 26 Taiwan, 22 the United Kingdom, 21 and the United States. 9 , 11 – 15 , 19 , 20 , 23 – 25 , 27 Studies focused on the meditative aspects of yoga while others incorporated exercise and/or gentle and slow movements and awareness. Types of yoga included Antenatal , 21 Anusara , 22 combination of Asana and Pranayama , 10 , 18 , 23 Hatha , 8 , 13 , 19 , 20 integrated yoga , 17 , 28 Iyengar , 14 Kirtan Kr iya, 15 , 26 Mindfulness-based meditation (with yoga), 9 , 11 , 27 Tai chi (with yoga), 12 unspecified, 7 , 16 and Viniyoga.…”

“…Many of the studies reported that the participants were age 18 and older. 8 , 9 , 13 , 19 – 23 , 29 Other studies reported that participants were between the ages of 18 and 45, 12 , 17 , 23 , 24 18 and 60, 10 , 11 , 16 , 18 , 26 , 27 18 and 80, 14 20 and 35, 7 , 17 20 and 70, 22 , 26 30 and 70, 28 and 45 and 90. 15 Participants in the studies included pregnant women, 9 , 12 , 17 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 25 individuals with a depression diagnosis, 13 , 16 , 20 , 29 cancer patients, 22 , 28 narcotic drug addicts, 7 patients with poststroke hemiparesis, 8 patients with lower back pain, 10 college students, 11 patients with atrial fibrillation, 14 caregivers, 15 , 18 postpartum women, 24 anxiety, 26 and low-income pa...…”

“…There were 5 studies that did not have a comparison or control group. 9 , 11 , 14 , 23 , 27 Ten studies compared yoga to no specific treatment, including assessment(s) only 7 , 12 , 18 , 19 , 24 or standard care. 17 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 29 Two studies compared yoga to health education.…”

“…Studies assessed severity of depression using the Beck’s Depression Inventory, 10 , 11 , 27 , 28 Beck’s Depression Inventory-II, 7 , 9 the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 15 , 16 , 24 , 26 the Geriatric Depression Scale, 8 the Centers for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale, 12 , 19 Patient Health Questionnaire, 13 , 20 , 24 the Zung Depression Self Rating Scale, 14 , 26 Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, 17 , 18 the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, 23 , 25 Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms, 24 or Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. 29 The severity of anxiety or stress was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, 7 – 8 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 20 , 25 Perceived Stress Scale, 11 , 13 , 20 the Zung Assessment Anxiety Self Rating Scale, 14 , 26 the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, 26 , 27 Pregnancy Experience Questionnaire, 17 and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. 29 Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study Health Survey, 15 World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF,…”

Mind-Body Approaches to Prevention and Intervention for Alcohol and Other Drug Use/Abuse in Young Adults

“…Yoga interventions for ER have demonstrated feasibility in a variety of settings, including a small number of studies conducted with young adults [ 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 ]. Based on these and other studies, Khanna and Greeson [ 80 ] noted that “the skills, insights, and self-awareness learned through yoga and mindfulness practice can target multiple psychological, neural, physiological, and behavioral processes implicated in addiction and relapse.…”