The effects of yoga on children’s self-perceived stress and coping abilities

<p>Stress is a problem for many children in our society. Previous research has shown how yoga can be used to help reduce stress levels. Twenty-seven fourth- and fifth-grade students from an urban elementary school participated in a three-week yoga unit during their physical education class, as a stress management unit. Using a repeated measures design, the participants’ self-perceived stress level, stress coping skills, and perception of yoga was measured. The current study found no significant change in the participants’ self-perceived stress level or stress coping skills after the yoga implementation. There was a significant change in student perceptions of yoga as both physical activity and for relaxation purposes. During the pre-test, 41.8 % of participants viewed yoga as both physical activity and relaxation; this number increased to 77.8% at the post-test six weeks later.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Promotion and Human Performance

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Smith-Vogtmann, Holly

Contributors dc:contributor

• Roberta Faust, Ph.D., Chair
• Brenda Riemer, Ph.D.
• Joan Cowdery, Ph.D.

• Yoga
• Stress management for children
• Kinesiology
• Life Sciences
• Psychology of Movement

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/246

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1245