Potentials of Yoga for Mental Health of School Students: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Abstract: Background- The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released a report on the mental health survey of students in Classes 6 to 12. As per the findings, 29 percent of students lack concentration, while 43 percent have mood swings. The survey also found that 81 percent of students suffer from anxiety caused by studies, exams, and results. It affects the overall quality of life and is associated with anxiety, stress, and other psychological factors. Objective- The purpose of the study was to conduct a review of the evidence base underpinning the effect of yoga on children’s mental health. Method- A review was conducted using the keywords’ yoga OR mindfulness AND school AND children OR child OR youth OR adolescent OR mental health’ and all the probable terms in national and international data repositories such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Google scholar, web of science. The search was limited to studies in the English language. Result- The evidence for yoga therapies in children is encouraging, although studies include methodological flaws such as small sample sizes and sparse information on interventions. Conclusion- This review has examined whether school-based yoga effectively promotes mental health in school-aged children. This review has highlighted the positive effects of school-based yoga interventions on children’s mental health.