School-based yoga intervention for internet resilience and holistic well-being of adolescents

Abstract

Background

In today’s educational milieu, rising mental and physical health issues among adolescents pose an imperative concern for schools. While yoga has shown growing therapeutic benefits, research addressing emerging concerns—such as internet addiction, and associated cognitive and sleep disorders—remains underexplored, especially in the post-COVID-19 era and within school curricula.

Objective

This pilot, randomized-controlled trial with high school students aimed to validate a concise, 25-minute yogic intervention tailored for adolescent well-being in academic settings.

Measures

Quantitative assessment tools included the Academic Anxiety Scale for Children, Concentration Questionnaire, Internet Addiction Test, Insomnia Severity Index, and General Health Questionnaire.

Results

Over a three-month period, students who practiced yoga reported marked improvements in internet resilience, academic anxiety, concentration, and insomnia symptoms (all p < 0.0001). Additionally, they showed significant reductions in general health complaints (e.g., headaches, stomach aches), with p-values ranging from p < 0.05 to p < 0.001. Conversely, the control group showed no significant changes, except for a worsening of internet addiction.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that even brief, consistent yoga practice can yield substantial benefits, advocating for its integration into school curricula to promote a healthier, more resilient generation of learners.