The effect of web-based Hatha yoga on psychological distress and sleep quality in older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Souad Baklouti; Feten Fekih-Romdhane; Noomen Guelmami; Tore Bonsaksen; Hana Baklouti; Asma Aloui; Liwa Masmoudi; Nizar Souissi; Mohamed Jarraya

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101715

The effect of web-based Hatha yoga on psychological distress and sleep quality in older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2023 Feb:50:101715. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101715. Epub 2022 Dec 13.

Authors

Souad Baklouti¹, Feten Fekih-Romdhane², Noomen Guelmami³, Tore Bonsaksen⁴, Hana Baklouti⁵, Asma Aloui⁶, Liwa Masmoudi⁷, Nizar Souissi⁸, Mohamed Jarraya⁹

Affiliations

¹ Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research Unit (UR18JS01), National Sport Observatory, Tunis, Tunisia; High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, 3000, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Psychiatry Ibn Omrane, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Human and Social Sciences, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Jendouba, Tunisia; Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Science, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway; Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Sandnes, Norway. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research Unit (UR18JS01), National Sport Observatory, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research Unit (UR18JS01), National Sport Observatory, Tunis, Tunisia; High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, 3000, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research Unit (UR18JS01), National Sport Observatory, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, 3000, Tunisia. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Background: To date, there has been very limited experimental research on the impact of Yoga on older adults' mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. We aimed to explore the effect of a web-based Hatha yoga program on psychological and quality of sleep in older adults who self-isolated at home during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods: Two hundred volunteers of both sexes were split into experimental (Yoga group, YG) and control (Control group, CG) groups, in a web-based randomized controlled study. All participants were administered the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI); at baseline and following an eight-week online Hatha yoga intervention.

Results: The YG showed significant reductions in depression (-56.1%; Z = 5.67, p < 0.01, r = 0.70) anxiety (-64.3%; Z = 5.27, p < 0.01, r = 0.65) and stress (-68.2%; Z = 5.86, r = 0.73) scores, while the CG showed a significant increase in depression. In addition, the total PSQI score of the YG was considerably lower during follow-up (3.38 ± 2.02, p < 0.05) than at baseline (4.8 ± 32, p < 0.05), which indicates an improvement of the quality of sleep. The proportion of individuals experiencing good sleep from the YG increased from 63% to 85% after the Hatha yoga intervention.

Conclusion: The use of a web-based Hatha Yoga intervention program was associated with a beneficial effect on the mental health and quality of sleep in older adults.

Keywords: COVID-19; Distress; Older adults; Quality of sleep; Yoga.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19*
Female
Humans
Internet
Male
Mental Health
Psychological Distress*
Quality of Life / psychology
Sleep Quality*
Yoga*