Efficacy of yogic practices on various physiological parameters during examination stress in young adult females

Abstract

Background: There is considerable evidence that medical students are suffering from levels of distress which are higher than those of general population. Scientific evidence supports the belief that yoga benefits physical and mental health via down regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Aims and Objectives: To assess the efficacy of Yogic practices on various physiological parameters and Perceived stress levels during examination stress in young adult females. Materials and Methods: Present study was carried out on 60 first year MBBS students who were assigned into two groups. Yoga group (Group-1) n=30 and Control group (Group-2) n=30. Group-1 underwent Yoga practices for 40 minutes daily for 12 weeks. Formative examinations were conducted at 6 weeks (stressor-1) and 12 weeks (stressor-2). The subjects were assessed on the following parameters at baseline, stressor-1 and stressor-2: GSR(Basal) and GSR (At the end of 5 minutes of relaxation), Heart rate, Systolic and Diastolic Blood pressure, Mean arterial pressure(MAP), Pulse pressure(PP), Rate pressure product(RPP),Double product(Do P) and Perceived stress scale(PSS). Results: There was a significant increase in GSR (Basal and at the end of 5 minutes of relaxation) in yoga group. Significant decrease in Heart rate, Systolic and Diastolic BP, Rate pressure product, double product and PSS scores were seen in Group-1. There was not a significant change in these parameters in the control group. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that intervention of yoga is useful in reducing examination stress. Keywords: Yoga, Galvanic skin resistance, Heart rate, Blood pressure indices, Stress