Gaskins Ronnesia B, Jennings Ernestine, Thind Herpreet, Becker Bruce M, Bock Beth C
University of Massachusetts Medical School School of Public Health, Brown University.
Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2014;24:63-70.
College students are vulnerable to a critical period in developmental maturation, facing rigorous academic work and learning how to function independently. Western aerobic exercise (WAE), such as running and bicycling, has been shown to improve mood and relieve stress. However, college students often have low levels of physical activity. Yoga is an ancient physical and mental practice that may affect mood and stress. However, rigorous studies examining the psychological effects of yoga are rare in peerreviewed Western journals. The aim of this research was to establish preliminary evidence for the acute effects of Vinyasa yoga on affect and stress in young-adult college students.
Twenty healthy college students age 18 years and older were recruited to participate in this pilot study. Participants attended a Vinyasa yoga class at a local studio twice weekly for 8 weeks. Affect and stress were assessed before and after each yoga session. Measures included the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (PANAS) and the Cohen Perceived Stress scale.
Positive affect scores increased significantly (p < 0.05) for 14 of the 16 yoga sessions (mean increase = 23.2%). Negative affect decreased significantly from pre- to postyoga (p < 0.05) for 15 of the 16 sessions (mean decrease = 22%). Repeated measures ANOVAs examining pre-post composite scores across all 8 weeks showed significant changes in PANAS, but not stress scores.
Findings suggest that yoga practice is associated with acute improvements in affect in a young-adult college population. Future research is needed to examine the extent to which different types of yoga address the needs of different college sub-populations (e.g., eating disordered, overweight/obese, sedentary, and smokers).
大学生正处于发育成熟的关键时期，面临着繁重的学业任务，并要学习如何独立生活。西方有氧运动，如跑步和骑自行车，已被证明可以改善情绪和减轻压力。然而，大学生的体育活动水平往往较低。瑜伽是一种古老的身心锻炼方式，可能会影响情绪和压力。然而，在西方同行评审期刊中，很少有严谨的研究探讨瑜伽的心理效应。本研究的目的是为流瑜伽对青年大学生情绪和压力的急性影响建立初步证据。
招募了20名18岁及以上的健康大学生参与这项试点研究。参与者每周两次在当地工作室参加流瑜伽课程，共持续8周。在每次瑜伽课程前后评估情绪和压力。测量指标包括正负情绪量表（PANAS）和科恩感知压力量表。
在16次瑜伽课程中的14次，积极情绪得分显著增加（p < 0.05）（平均增加 = 23.2%）。在16次课程中的15次，消极情绪从瑜伽前到瑜伽后显著降低（p < 0.05）（平均降低 = 22%）。对所有8周的课前和课后综合得分进行重复测量方差分析，结果显示PANAS有显著变化，但压力得分没有变化。
研究结果表明，瑜伽练习与青年大学生情绪的急性改善有关。未来需要进行研究，以探讨不同类型的瑜伽在多大程度上满足不同大学生亚群体（如饮食失调、超重/肥胖、久坐不动和吸烟者）的需求。
