Effect of an eight-week yoga program on adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder in an Indian school setting: a...

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is increasingly prevalent among adolescents, leading to psychological, social, and academic challenges. Yoga has demonstrated benefits in stress reduction, emotional regulation, attentional control, and overall well-being.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an eight-week Integrated Yoga Module in reducing Internet Gaming Disorder symptoms and associated psychological distress among adolescents in a school setting.

In this randomized controlled trial, 120 adolescents meeting criteria for IGD were allocated to either yoga group (n = 60) or a control group (n = 60) that continued routine academic activities. Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS-20), Parental Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (PIGDS), Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHO QOL-BREF), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Mind Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ). Data were analyzed using mixed factorial ANOVA with Group (yoga vs. control) as the between-subjects factor and Time (pre vs. post) as the within-subjects factor, with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc comparisons.

Significant Group × Time interactions were observed across all IGDS symptom domains (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse; all p < 0.001), indicating greater reductions in the yoga group relative to controls. A interaction effect was also observed for parent-reported IGD severity (p < 0.001). Significant interaction effects favoring the yoga group were found for internet addiction, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life (physical, psychological, social, and environment domains), loneliness, and mind wandering (all p < 0.001). No significant between-group differences were observed at baseline.

An eight-week Integrated Yoga practice demonstrated significant improvements in IGD symptoms, emotional distress, quality of life, and cognitive-emotional functioning compared with a control group. Yoga may represent a feasible and scalable complementary intervention for adolescents with IGD. Future trials incorporating active comparators and long-term follow-up are warranted.

http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/login.php, Identifier (CTRI/2022/06/043063).