Physical Therapy Students' Perceptions of Yoga Exercises as a Stress-Coping Mechanism

Abstract

Aim: To determine the perception of Physical Therapy (PT) students of PLM AY 2020-2021 on yoga exercises as a stress-coping mechanism. Methods: This study used a non-experimental descriptive survey to gather data from respondents. A total of 663 PLM BSPT students participated in the study. A structured closed-ended questionnaire was used, including self-made questions, Perceptions of Academic Stress Scale, and adapted items from the Beliefs About Yoga Scale. Results: The results show that male students experience the least academic stress (2.57±0.532) than female students (2.51±0.472). Fifth-year students (3.44±0.486) experience the least academic stress while the 3rd year students (2.46±0.474) experience the highest. In terms of the overall perception of yoga exercises, "beneficial to physical and mental health" and "effective for coping with stress" ranked the highest, while "would take too much time" and "able to implement as part of routine" ranked the lowest. Conclusion and Implications: Filipino health allied students who cannot adapt to the online learning brought by the COVID-19 pandemic become prone to stress, and to an extent, in a mental health crisis. Since yoga exercises have been perceived favorably in reducing the negative effects of stress, it can play a vital role in a PT student’s life, especially among those with high perceived stress levels, by implementing yoga to maintain their general wellness and utilize as a coping mechanism.