Effectiveness of yoga and pranayama on depressive symptoms among elderly residing in selected old age home

Abstract

Yoga and pranayama is the traditional Indian practice which was usually to maintain and restore the health and peace. This study investigated the combined effect of yoga and pranayama in reducing depressive symptoms of the elderly residing in old age home. The study assessed the pre and post-test depressive symptoms, compared the mean scores and also associated the influence of demographic variables. One group pre-test post-test design 50 elderly with depressive symptoms were included from selected old age home. Geriatric Depression scale long version was used to assess the depressive symptoms of the elderly before and after intervention. Elderly were given supervised yoga and pranayama for the period of 16 weeks. Post assessment was done and the data was analysed and result was drawn. The finding of the study showed that yoga and pranayama was effective in reducing depressive symptoms of the elderly and the demographic variable did not have any influence on the depressive symptoms of the elderly.