Supporting Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing Among Nursing Students Through Yoga: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Health Research
• Complementary Therapies

Background:

• Student mental health and engagement are vital for nursing education success.
• Nursing students face significant psychological distress impacting academic performance.
• Holistic practices may mitigate stress and enhance student wellbeing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of an 8-week Hatha yoga program on nursing students.
• To assess yoga's impact on depression, anxiety, stress, engagement, and dropout intention.
• To explore students' lived experiences with yoga for wellbeing.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods design with quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• Pre- and post-intervention assessments over 8 weeks.
• Thematic analysis of interviews and statistical analysis of survey data.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress were observed.
• Improvements in behavioural and emotional engagement were noted.
• Qualitative data highlighted enhanced wellbeing, self-care, and resilience.

Conclusions:

• Hatha yoga participation is linked to decreased psychological distress in nursing students.
• Yoga enhanced student engagement and may improve academic persistence.
• Integrating yoga into nursing curricula can support student wellbeing and retention.