Table 1.
Details for included studies assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
| References & Country | Study design & quality | Population | Yoga intervention | Comparison intervention | Outcomes & results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Study type 2. Quality of evidence 3. Level of evidence |
1. # of subjects: enrolled (N), in yoga group (Ny), & in comparison group (Nc) 2. % of males 3. Age range, mean (SD) 4. Description |
1. Yogic elements (in order as described) 2. Frequency & duration 3. Additional interventions 4. Setting (group OR individual) |
1. Anxiety 2. Depression 3. Adherence/study completion rate 4. Adverse events |
||
| Freedenberg et al. (53) USA |
1. Randomized control trial 2. Moderate 3. Level 2 |
1. N = 46, Ny = 26, Nc = 20 2. 33% males 3. 12–18 years-old, 14.8 (1.7) 4. Adolescents with a cardiac diagnosis |
1. Breathing, postures, meditation, & imagery 2. 1.5 h x1/week for 6 weeks 3. Included group discussions 4. NR (NR) |
Video online discussion group, 1 hfor 6 weeks | 1. HADS: NSD B/G or W/G 2. HADS: NSD B/G or W/G 3. 95% completed the study 4. NR |
| Velasquez et al. (61) Colombia |
1. Randomized control trial 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 125, Ny = 68, Nc = 57 2. NR 3. NR 4. 5th, 8th, & 9th graders |
1. Postures, breathing, relaxation, & meditation 2. 2 h × 24 times 3. No additional interventions 4. School (NR) |
No treatment | 1. Strength & difficulties questionnaire: ↓* 2. Strength & difficulties questionnaire: ↓* (baseline as covariant negates this) 3. NR 4. NR |
| Khalsa et al. (39) USA |
1. Randomized control trial 2. Moderate 3. Level 2 |
1. N = 74, Ny = 74, Nc = 74 (group breakdown is unclear) 2. NR 3. 15–19 year-olds, 16.8 (0.6) 4. 11th & 12th graders at rural secondary school |
1. Breathing, postures, & visualization 2. 30 min −40 min, 2–3 xs/week, 23–32 sessions for 11 weeks 3. Also included games 4. School (group) |
Regular physical activity | 1. BASC-2: NSD B/G or W/G POMS: NSD B/G or W/G 2. BASC-2: NSD B/G or W/G POMS: NSD B/G or W/G 3. Attendance to yoga classes comparable to attendance to PE classes 4. NR |
| Noggle et al. (62) USA |
1. Randomized control trial 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 51, Ny = 36, Nc = 15 2. 51% male in yoga group 3. Mean age 17 years-old 4. 11th, 12th graders |
1. Postures & relaxation 2. 2–3 sessions/week for 10 weeks (28 sessions total) 3. No additional interventions 4. School (group) |
PE control, 30–40 min, 2–3 times/week, 10 weeks | 1. POMS: ↓* 2. POMS: ↓ 3. Moderate attendance noted 4. 1 adverse event reported due to unknown pre-existing condition |
| Kuttner et al. (59) Canada |
1. Randomized control trial 2. Moderate 3. Level 2 |
1. N = 28, Ny = 14, Nc = 14 2. 29% males 3. 11–18 years-old, 14.15 (1.95) 4. Children with irritable bowel syndrome |
1. Postures & breathing 2. 10 min/day for 4 weeks 3. No additional interventions 4. 1 in-person, others at home with DVD (individual) |
Subjects were asked to manage IBS as typical | 1. RCMAS: ↓ 2. CDI-short form: NSD 3. 79% completed the study 4. NR |
| Sams et al. (45) USA |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 65, Ny = 65, Nc = 0 2. Unclear 3. 13–17 years-old, 15.06 (1.34) 4. various mental health diagnoses |
1. Breathing, postures, & mindfulness 2. A single 50 min session 3. Mindful activities 4. Psychiatric inpatient unit (group) |
None | 1. POMS: ↓** W/G 2. POMS: ↓** W/G 3. NR 4. NR |
| Tejvani et al. (57) India |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 34, Ny = 34, Nc = 0 2. males 79% males 3. 12–20 years old, 12.47 4. Residents of an orphanage |
1. Postures, breathing, deep relaxation, & meditation 2. 1 h/day for 6 days/week for 2 weeks 3. No additional interventions 4. Orphanage (NR) |
None | 1. HADS: ↓** W/G 2. HADS: ↓** W/G 3. NR 4. NR |
| Hall et al. (54) USA |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 29, Ny = 20, Nc = 0 2. 0% males 3. 14–18 years-old, 15.9 (1.8) 4. Adolescents with DSM-5 diagnosis of an eating disorder |
1. Breathing, chanting, & postures 2. 60–90 min yoga/week for 12 sessions 3. No additional interventions 4. Local studio (NR) |
None | 1. STAI: ↓* (state only) W/G 2. SOM: ↓** W/G 3. 69% completed study 4. NR |
| McNamara et al. (40) USA |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 21, Ny = 20, Nc = 0 2. Males 38% males 3. 7–20 years-old, 11 (NR) 4. Children with cystic fibrosis |
1. Postures 2. 40 min, 6xs over 10 weeks 3. Counseling 4. Hospital clinic (individual) |
None | 1. STAIC: ↓* W/G immediately pre & post single session HADS: NSD W/G 2. HADS: NSD W/G 3. 95% completed the study 4. NR |
| Freedenberg at al. (52) USA |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 10, Ny = 10, Nc = 0 2. 60% males 3. 12–18 years-old, 15 (1.94) 4. Adolescents with implantable cardioverter defibrillators or pacemakers |
1. Breathing, postures, meditation, & imagery 2. 1.5–2 h x1/week for 6 weeks 3. Included group discussions 4. At cardiology clinic (group) |
None | 1. HADS: ↓* W/G 2. HADS: NSD W/G 3. 60% attended all yoga sessions 4. 1 subject was noted as depressed at end of the intervention (causation not determined) |
| Frank et al. (51) USA |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 3 |
1. N = 49, Ny = 49, Nc = 0 2. 45% males 3. Age NR 4. 9–12th graders in an alternative school |
1. Breathing, postures, & meditation 2. 30 min x3–4 3. Taught coping skills, building awareness, understanding stress 4. School (group) |
None | 1. BSI: ↓* W/G 2. BSI: ↓* W/G 3. NR 4. NR |
| Benavides and Caballero (36) USA |
1. Cohort+ 2. Weak 3. Level 4 |
1. N = 20, Ny = 20, Nc = 0 2. NR 3. 8–15 years-old, 11.7 (1.5) 4. Children at risk for type 2 diabetes |
1. Postures, breathing, & meditation 2. 1.25 h x3/week for 12 weeks 3. No additional interventions 4. NR (NR) |
None | 1. BAI-Y: subjects ↑baseline levels ↓W/G 2. BDI-Y: subjects ↑baseline levels ↓W/G 3. 70% completed the study 4. NR |
Summary of study characteristics for studies assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Study characteristics summarized include country in which study was conducted, study type, quality of evidence, level of evidence, number of subjects in the study and in each group, population age range and mean age, a description of the population, yogic elements included in the intervention, frequency and duration of the intervention, additional intervention components included, setting, if the intervention was a group intervention or individual, a description of comparison interventions, and pertinent study results. The studies in this table are organized first by study type starting with randomized control trials, followed by cohort analytic studies, and then cohort studies. Within each section of specific study type, studies are organized by year published, from the most recent study to most dated study. NR, Not reported; PE, physical education; NSD, no significant difference or change; W/G, within group; B/G, between group, STAI, State Trait-Anxiety Inventory; RCMAS, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale; BAI-Y, Beck Anxiety Inventory for Youth; BDI-Y, Beck Depression Inventory for Youth; CDI, Children's Depression Inventory; BRUMS, Brunel University Mood Scale; BSI, Brief Symptoms Inventory; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; BASC-2, Behavior Assessment System for Children; POMS, Profile of Mood States; SDQ, Strength & Difficulties Questionnaire; ↓, decrease; ↑, increase;
p ≥ 0.05,
p ≥ 0.001;
, only within group differences could be examined due to study design.