The effect of web-based Hatha yoga on psychological distress and sleep quality in older adults: A randomized controlled trial.
Souad Baklouti, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Noomen Guelmami and 6 others
PMID 36521407WHAT IT FOUND
Tunisian older adults isolated during the pandemic who did web-based Hatha yoga twice a week for eight weeks reported lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores than a control group.
Their sleep quality also improved, with 85% reporting good sleep after the intervention compared to 58% in controls.
Key findings
01The yoga group had significantly lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores after the intervention compared to before, while the control group showed no significant change in these measures.
02Sleep quality improved significantly in the yoga group, with the proportion of participants reporting good sleep rising from 63% to 85%.
03The control group experienced a significant worsening of sleep quality during the confinement period, with good sleep dropping from 76% to 58%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was smaller than originally calculated (160 completed vs 200 randomized), and the groups were unequal in size (65 yoga vs 95 control). Participants were mostly healthy, highly educated, and had no diagnosed mental illness, so results may not apply to older adults with dementia, severe mental health disorders, or significant physical limitations. The control group received no intervention, so it is unclear whether the benefits were due to the specific content of yoga or simply the effect of social contact and structured activity during isolation. The study was conducted during the initial lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may limit generalizability to other contexts or later stages of the pandemic.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this web-based yoga program is suitable for all older adults in isolation. The study excluded people with dementia, diagnosed mental illness, and physical constraints, and the participants were largely healthy and educated. The benefit may also stem partly from the social interaction and structured routine rather than the yoga poses themselves.