Effects of Yoga Nidra on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The global mental health crisis has escalated to unprecedented levels, with stress, anxiety, and depression posing major public health concerns. Conventional interventions have shown limited success in addressing these multifaceted issues, prompting researchers to explore alternative solutions. Yoga Nidra (YN), a meditative practice, has gained momentum over the past decade as a potential holistic approach to mental health care. Yet, its clinical effectiveness remains inadequately understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis rigorously assessed YN's impact on stress, anxiety, and depression. A comprehensive search of seven databases and one trial database yielded 814 articles, of which 73 studies involving 5201 participants met the inclusion criteria. Between-group meta-analyses revealed significant benefits of YN for stress (Hedge's g: -0.80 with active comparator, -1.70 with no comparator), anxiety (active: -1.35, no comparator: -1.43), and depression (active: -0.69, no comparator: -0.92). Within-group analyses supported these effects, reinforcing YN's therapeutic potential. However, given the low methodological quality and variability in intervention delivery, these moderate-to-large effects should be interpreted cautiously, as they likely reflect inflated estimates. Despite these limitations, YN shows potential in managing mental health symptoms, underscoring the need for high-quality, standardized research to establish its efficacy as a viable clinical intervention.