The Effect of a Yoga-Based Stress Management Program on Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE, vol.98, no.5, pp.1479-1492, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 98 Issue: 5
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1002/jad.70155
- Journal Name: JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE
- Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Periodicals Index Online, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Index Islamicus, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Social Sciences Abstracts, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Education Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Page Numbers: pp.1479-1492
- Keywords: adolescent, anxiety, depression, school health, stress management, yoga
- Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Introduction Globally increasing stress levels among adolescents pose a significant public health concern. Yoga-based interventions are gaining attention as effective and holistic approaches to mental health. This study aimed to examine the effects of a Yoga-Based Stress Management Program on adolescents' levels of perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being.Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 adolescents mean age = 16.9 +/- 0.9 years; 77.5% female from eight high schools. The intervention group participated in a 4-week program consisting of weekly 50-min sessions integrating cognitive-behavioral stress management with Yin yoga practice, while the control group received a minimal-intervention condition (one-time brief stress education session). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Effect sizes are reported using partial eta squared (eta p & sup2;).Results Significant group & times; time interaction effects were found for all outcomes, with large effect sizes observed for depression (eta p & sup2; = 0.651), anxiety (eta p & sup2; = 0.734), perceived stress (eta p & sup2; = 0.753), psychological well-being (eta p & sup2; = 0.668), and yoga self-efficacy (eta p & sup2; = 0.759). Improvements in the intervention group were evident post-intervention and were largely maintained at follow-up.Conclusion The Yoga-Based Stress Management Program was associated with meaningful improvements in adolescents' mental health and well-being. These findings suggest that integrating stress management with yoga may represent a promising school-based approach to support adolescent well-being, although further studies with active control conditions are warranted.