The relationship between yoga involvement, mindfulness and psychological well-being.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine how different levels of yoga involvement are related to different parameters of mental health and illness.


METHODS
A total sample of 455 participants (410 females) were investigated by means of an internet survey. 362 yoga practitioners (327 females) rated their degree of yoga involvement on the Yoga Immersion Scale. A control group was comprised of 93 gymnastics practitioners (83 females).


METHODS
All participants completed the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being, the Freiburger Mindfulness Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory for psychiatric symptoms.


RESULTS
Highly involved yoga practitioners exhibited a significantly increased amount of mindfulness and religious/spiritual well-being (both p<0.01) and lower psychiatric symptoms such as depression (p<0.01) compared to those who were only marginally/moderately yoga-involved or who were in the gymnastics control group.


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance with the literature, yoga practice might have its biggest impact on mental health when it is part of a practitioner's worldview. Further research focusing on the impact of yoga involvement in clinical groups is encouraged.
University clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
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L
Gaiswinkler
University clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Graz, Austria; Center for Integrative Addiction Research (Grüner Kreis Society), Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: human.unterrainer@uni-graz.at.
H F
HF
Unterrainer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Meditation; Mindfulness; Psychological well-being; Spirituality; Yoga involvement