Effect of short-term yoga on psychological well-being of 1st-year MBBS students: A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Medical course is quite demanding and this often leads to stress in the students pursuing MBBS course. The National Medical Council of India has introduced yoga in the foundation course as a part of the new curriculum. Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the 10-day yoga (1 h session each day) on the psychological distress of MBBS students. Materials and Methods: First-year MBBS students in the age group of 18–22 years of Subharti Medical College were recruited for the study. 49 males and 62 females participated in the study (n = 111). Brief symptom inventory was used to assess nine psychological symptom dimensions and distress index at baseline and after 10 days of yoga session. Pre and post-session mean scores for each dimension and index were compared using paired student t-test. Results: Data analysis revealed a significant decrease in reported anxiety, obsession-compulsion, and paranoid ideation (P < 0.001) as well as depression, psychoticism, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility (P < 0.05) after yoga. Scores of global severity index as well as positive symptom distress index also decreased (P < 0.001) significantly. A decrease in reported somatization and positive symptom total was also seen though not significant. Conclusion: Even short-term yoga program may be helpful in reducing stress level of the students.