Background: Adolescence is characterized by significant emotional and psychological challenges. Traditional physical education programs may not adequately address the mental health needs of adolescents. This study investigates the effectiveness of yoga-based physical education (YBPE) on emotional well-being parameters in adolescent students.
Objective: To examine the impact of a 16-week yoga-based physical education curriculum on emotional well-being, stress levels, and psychological resilience among adolescents aged 14-17 years.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 180 adolescent students from three secondary schools. Participants were randomly assigned to yoga-based physical education (YBPE, n=90) or traditional physical education (TPE, n=90) groups. The YBPE intervention included asanas, pranayama, meditation, and mindfulness practices integrated into the standard PE curriculum. Pre- and post-intervention assessments used validated scales including the Adolescent Emotional Well-being Scale (AEWS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC).
Results: The YBPE group showed significant improvements in emotional well-being scores (23.4% increase, p<0.001), stress reduction (31.2% decrease in PSS scores, p<0.001), and psychological resilience (18.7% improvement, p<0.01) compared to the TPE group. Secondary outcomes included improved sleep quality, enhanced self-esteem, and better emotional regulation capabilities.
Conclusion: Yoga-based physical education demonstrates superior efficacy in promoting emotional well-being among adolescents compared to traditional physical education approaches. Integration of yoga practices in school curricula may serve as an effective intervention for supporting adolescent mental health.