Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 16 weeks of Bikram yoga
on perceived stress, self-efficacy and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in sedentary,
stressed adults.
Design
16 week, parallel-arm, randomised controlled trial with flexible dosing.
Methods
Physically inactive, stressed adults (37.2 ± 10.8 years) were randomised to Bikram yoga (three to five classes per week) or control
(no treatment) group for 16 weeks. Outcome measures, collected via self-report, included
perceived stress, general self-efficacy, and HRQoL. Outcomes were assessed at baseline,
midpoint and completion.
Results
Individuals were randomised to the experimental (n = 29) or control group (n = 34). Average attendance in the experimental group was 27 ± 18 classes. Repeated measure analyses of variance (intention-to-treat) demonstrated
significantly improved perceived stress (p = 0.003, partial η2 = 0.109), general self-efficacy (p = 0.034, partial η2 = 0.056), and the general health (p = 0.034, partial η2 = 0.058) and energy/fatigue (p = 0.019, partial η2 = 0.066) domains of HRQoL in the experimental group versus the control group. Attendance
was significantly associated with reductions in perceived stress, and an increase
in several domains of HRQoL.
Conclusions
16 weeks of Bikram yoga significantly improved perceived stress, general self-efficacy
and HRQoL in sedentary, stressed adults. Future research should consider ways to optimise
adherence, and should investigate effects of Bikram yoga intervention in other populations
at risk for stress-related illness.
Trial registration
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000867493. Registered 04
July 2016. URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12616000867493.aspx.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 22, 2017
Accepted:
August 13,
2017
Received in revised form:
July 23,
2017
Received:
February 4,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
