Yoga for Burnout in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Athar Javeth1, Sanchari Roy2, Uma Shanker Agrawal3
1Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
International Journal of Yoga
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Yoga effectively reduces burnout in nurses by improving emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. This practice offers a cost-effective method for nurses to enhance well-being and patient care quality.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Complementary Medicine
Background:
- Nurses face significant physical and psychological stress, increasing burnout risk.
- Burnout negatively impacts nurses' health, well-being, and patient care quality.
- Existing interventions for nurse burnout require further evaluation for effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness of yoga interventions on burnout among nurses.
- To quantify the impact of yoga on key burnout components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal achievement.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Inclusion of 3 RCTs meeting Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
- Meta-analysis using random and fixed-effect models to estimate standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Main Results:
- Yoga significantly reduced emotional exhaustion (SMD -0.71; P < 0.01) and depersonalization (SMD -0.59; P < 0.01).
- Yoga significantly improved personal achievement (SMD 0.76; P < 0.01).
- High heterogeneity was observed (I² = 0%-72%); 2 of 3 trials had a low risk of bias.
Conclusions:
- Yoga is an effective and economical intervention for reducing nurse burnout.
- Integrating yoga into healthcare routines can enhance nurse well-being and patient care.
- Further research is needed to develop evidence-based guidelines for yoga implementation.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
Current trends in nursing include:
01:23Hypertension V: Nursing Management
The nursing management of hypertension involves accurately assessing symptoms, making a comprehensive nursing diagnosis, collaborating with patients to set goals, and implementing targeted interventions to mitigate the condition's impact and improve patient well-being.Comprehensive AssessmentThe initial step in nursing care for hypertension involves a thorough patient assessment. It includes evaluating symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and previous hypertension episodes.
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:30Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
Regular exercise and meditation serve as essential tools in managing stress and promoting physical and mental well-being.
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...