Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a yoga program provided to workers in small businesses to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. A nonequivalent control group pre/post-test design was used. The experimental group (n = 31) was assigned a yoga program consisting of yoga postures designed for meditation, strengthening, stretching, and balancing, given twice weekly for 12 weeks. The control group (n = 38) was given no other intervention. The mean age was 48.1 years old in the experimental group and 47.7 years old in the control group. Three trained investigators collected the questionnaires and one month after completing the 12-week yoga program, the same questionnaires that were administered at baseline were again administered. Psychosocial variables (depressive symptoms and job stress), health promotion behaviors, and body measurements (weight and waist circumference) were measured for the program evaluation. The yoga program was effective in improving waist circumference (from 81.8 to 79.2, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (from 81.0 to 79.1, p = 0.004) as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group’s job stress score decreased from 1.38 to 1.02, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.240). A yoga program could be a useful intervention for workers with CVD risk factors, but it was not effective in psychological factors such as job stress and depression. A long-term intervention approach is important to confirm the psychosocial effect. Therefore, future research is needed to investigate the long-term outcomes of such interventions.
Highlights
As of 2018, the number of small enterprises in Korea reached 2,649,967, accounting for 99.8% of all enterprises, and the number of workers in small enterprises accounted for 83.0% (15,818,937) of the entire worker pool [1]
The experimental group comprised 31 workers of a small audio equipment components manufacturing enterprise located in S city, and the control group comprised 38 workers of three small enterprises which manufactures copper fittings located in Y city, all of which are geographically distant from the experimental group (Control group 1: n = 11, Control group 2: n = 15, Control group 3: n = 12)
We verified that the yoga program developed in this study reduced diastolic blood pressure in workers of small enterprises, who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than are those of medium-sized or larger enterprises, thereby confirming that this program is effective in lowering blood pressure, a critical physiological index related to CVD risks
Summary
As of 2018, the number of small enterprises in Korea reached 2,649,967, accounting for 99.8% of all enterprises, and the number of workers in small enterprises accounted for 83.0% (15,818,937) of the entire worker pool [1]. Job stress is a key risk factor that induces CVD [8,9,10,11,12,13,14], and contributes to financial loss and reduced productivity as a result of disasters and accidents, which can undermine the competitiveness of local communities as well as the nation. For this reason, job stress is acknowledged as a factor that threatens the development and health of business owners, local communities, and the nation [15]. These findings highlight the need of interventions focused on psychosocial aspects to prevent occupational diseases in small enterprises
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