Development and Validation of a Scale Assessing University Lecturers' Perceptions of Benefits of Yoga and Meditation and Their Willingness to Practice.
Nitu Sinha
International Journal of Yoga Therapy November 21, 2025 DOI: 10.17761/2025-D-24-00042 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 162 |
| Population | University lecturers at a university in North India |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Workplace health Faculty wellness Personnel well-being Staff health Contemplative techniques Stress reduction Holistic health Campus wellness Academic well-being programs Educational institution programs Physical health Stress management Sleep quality Job satisfaction Wellness outcomes |
| Key findings | More than 95% of university lecturers perceived positive impacts of yoga and meditation on well-being, yet only 11.1% practiced daily, while 89.8% expressed willingness to participate in university-provided sessions. |
Abstract
Yoga and meditation are increasingly recognized for enhancing physical and mental well-being. However, there is limited research on university lecturers' perceptions and willingness to incorporate these practices into their day-to-day teaching and learning activities. The present study explored the benefits of yoga and meditation perceived by university lecturers and their willingness to engage in these practices. A cross-sectional study involving 162 university lecturers selected through convenience sampling was conducted at a university in North India. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed and validated as part of this study. The questionnaire comprised demographic information, perceived benefits, and willingness to practice yoga and meditation. The questionnaire underwent reliability and content validity testing, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.854-0.881. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were used to analyze the data. More than 95% of respondents perceived positive impacts of yoga and meditation on physical and mental health, stress reduction, sleep quality, immune system strength, self-awareness, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. Despite these positive perceptions, only 11.1% of respondents practiced yoga and meditation daily. However, 89.8% expressed willingness to participate in university-provided sessions. The university lecturers recognized the significant benefits of yoga and meditation, yet their regular practice remained limited. The high willingness to engage in these practices suggests the potential for successfully implementing structured yoga and meditation programs within university settings. Future research should explore long-term impacts and tailor interventions to address specific demographic needs, potentially enhancing well-being and job satisfaction among academic staff.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |