Yoga for Academic Excellence: A Pre–Post Study on Focus, Stress, and Well-Being among Higher Secondary Students Preparing for Entrance Examinations
Sucheta N. Vispute Nirbhaykumar D. Vispute, Harshad P. Gadgil
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science Communication and Technology July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.48175/ijarsct-36866 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre–post experimental design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Higher secondary students preparing for entrance examinations |
| Intervention | pranayama |
| Keywords | Likert scale Intervention counseling Stress linguistics Mental stress Scale ratio Mental health Perceived stress scale Stress management Clinical psychology Medical education Emotional stress Applied psychology Martial arts |
| Key findings | Mean scores on a five-point Likert scale increased from 35.85 (pre-test) to 46.27 (post-test), indicating improvements in focus, emotional balance, and stress management. |
Abstract
In today’s highly competitive academic environment, students preparing for entrance examinations often experience increased stress, reduced attention span, and emotional instability. Yoga, as a holistic mind–body practice, has been widely recognized for its positive effects on mental and physical health. This study investigates the impact of a structured yoga intervention on concentration, stress levels, and emotional well-being among higher secondary students. A pre–post experimental design was adopted, involving daily sessions of asanas, pranayama, and meditation. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale before and after the intervention. The findings revealed a notable increase in mean scores from 35.85 (pre-test) to 46.27 (post-test), indicating significant improvements in focus, emotional balance, and stress management. The study concludes that yoga is an effective, low-cost, and non-pharmacological strategy for enhancing students’ academic readiness and psychological well-being.