Thesis
Trauma-informed yoga for positive mental health: A mixed-methods evaluation study
Southern Cross University
Master of Science (MSc), Southern Cross University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.544
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Abstract
Trauma-informed yoga (TIY) is a contemporary style of yoga adapted for individuals who have experienced psychological trauma and more specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TIY is found to be an effective therapy alongside psychiatry to enhance wellbeing in clinical populations. There is a dearth of research on pre-recorded online TIY and its impact on stress and PMH within non-clinical populations.
To explore the effectiveness of a 10-week pre-recorded online TIY intervention a mixed methods study was designed for a workplace convenience sample who participated in a one hour once weekly pre-recorded online TIY intervention. The quantitative component was a small, wait-listed controlled pilot intervention study and involved a range of questionnaires that were administered pre and post the TIY program. The qualitative component was comprised of online diaries and one-to-one private online interviews with the participants from the pre-recorded online TIY intervention group.
The quantitative outcomes showed data patterns over multiple questionnaires including increases in Positive Mental Health (PMH) (b = 3.7 [95% CI 1.26, 6.14]), mindfulness (b = 7.81 [95% CI 2.40, 13.22]), and resilience (b = 4.1 [95% CI -0.45, 8.63]), and a significant increase in self-compassion (b = 2.81 [95% CI 0.77, 4.85]) post-intervention. However, there was little or no effect for stress ((b = 1.51, [-3.9, 6.9) or empowerment (b = -0.25, p = 0.29).
Findings from the qualitative study suggest the 10-week intervention of pre-recorded online TIY was experienced as having a positive effect on PMH and a capacity to personally empower participants, based on participants’ capacity to slow down, and increase their self-awareness, find meaning in their lives and make life choices that went beyond the practise of pre-recorded online TIY. A conceptual model of empowerment in TIY is proposed.
Common to all small pilot studies, the small number of participants limits the statistical power of the study and increases risk of the type II error of failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is false in the population. The large drop-out rate from the active group increases risk of finding a significant difference. This was a pilot study and was not designed to test hypotheses.
Nevertheless, data patterns were demonstrated across several outcomes suggesting that a larger randomised control trial could be warranted so rigorous hypotheses testing could be conducted for these outcomes. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, due to small sample size and large number of withdrawals from the active group.
Details
- Title
- Trauma-informed yoga for positive mental health: A mixed-methods evaluation study
- Creators
- Tracey Mulvihill
- Contributors
- Joanne Bradbury (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversitySandra Grace (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityFrances Mary Doran (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Master of Science (MSc)
- Theses
- Master of Science (MSc), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- xvi, 300
- Identifiers
- 991013158713602368
- Copyright
- © Tracey A. Mulvihill 2023
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Resource Type
- Thesis