Abstract
Recent studies have established yoga practice as a mainstream complementary clinical tool within correctional environments. It is shown that regular yoga practice is coupled with improved impulse control, sustained attention, attenuated antisocial and self-harm behaviors, reduced stress, and psychological distress. No academic research until now has provided evidence of mental health benefits of yoga for institutionalized young people. In Sweden, each year more than thousand adolescents receive compulsory care at juvenile institutions run by the Swedish National Board of Institutional Care. These young people are characterized by substance abuse, aggressive and antisocial behaviors, high frequency of self-harm, and the experience of abuse. Most of them manifest attention problems, depression, anxiety, and impulsivity. They have a dramatically increased risk for recidivistic criminal behavior, continuous medical, and social care and untimely death. The present study plan aims at evaluating, with previously validated psychological measures, in a quasi-experimental design, the effects of yoga practice for institutionalized adolescents. Adolescents' experiences of participating in yoga practice will also be assessed by semi-structured individual interviews. Ethical approval was given by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. It is hypothesized that yoga practice (in combination with the standard treatment within institutional care) will reduce institutionalized adolescents' aggression, antisocial behavior, anxiety, depression, and negative affect, and increase their cognitive flexibility (in the form of increased impulse control).
Highlights
IntroductionThe Swedish National Board of Institutional Care (Statens institutionsstyrelse, SiS) runs special residential homes and provides individually tailored compulsory care for young people with psychosocial problems, substance abuse and aggressive antisocial behaviors
Young People Placed in Juvenile InstitutionsThe Swedish National Board of Institutional Care (Statens institutionsstyrelse, SiS) runs special residential homes and provides individually tailored compulsory care for young people with psychosocial problems, substance abuse and aggressive antisocial behaviors
The Social services commit over a thousand young people between 15 and 21 years old to SiS’s juvenile institutional care due to drug abuse, criminal activity, and/or other socially destructive behaviors
Summary
The Swedish National Board of Institutional Care (Statens institutionsstyrelse, SiS) runs special residential homes and provides individually tailored compulsory care for young people with psychosocial problems, substance abuse and aggressive antisocial behaviors. The social services of the municipalities are responsible for handling and placing these young people into SiS, as well as taking care of their needs and support after their release from SiS. The Social services commit over a thousand young people between 15 and 21 years old to SiS’s juvenile institutional care due to drug abuse, criminal activity, and/or other socially destructive behaviors. In 2019, Swedish municipalities alone spent 1.44 billion Swedish crowns (SEK) on young people’s care committed to juvenile institutions
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