Effect of Pranayama and Meditation on Well-being among University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Jairam Kushwaha, Vatsala Thapliyal, Lakshmikant Nagar, Ghanshyam Singh Thakur
Journal of Mountain Research 2024 DOI: 10.51220/jmr.v19-i1.31 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 150 |
| Population | Undergraduate university students aged 18-23 years, both genders (male:female = 1:1) |
| Interventions | Pranayama Mindfulness (vipassana) meditation |
| Duration | Daily 60-min sessions over ten weeks, with follow-up |
| Topics | Breathwork Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | The authors report that ten weeks of daily pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation significantly improved overall well-being in the yoga group compared with controls, with gains maintained at follow-up, and produced significant changes in BMI and blood pressure at different study stages. They conclude the combined practice shows potential benefits for well-being and biomarker outcomes among university students. |
Abstract
Well-being, reflecting health, happiness and prosperity, is crucial for quality of life. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation for improving well-being of university students. In this single-blind randomized control trial, 150 undergraduate students (aged, 18-23 years) were employed. The participants of both genders (male:female = 1:1) were randomly allocated into two groups: yoga (n=75) and control (n=75). The yoga group, engaged in daily 60-min pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation sessions over a period of ten-weeks, while the control group maintained their regular routine. The participants were assessed for well-being, body mass index, blood pressure and pulse rate using standard measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Repeated measure analyses of variance (RMANOVA) followed by Bonferroni adjusted post hoc analyses have shown that there is a significant improvement in overall well-being (p<0.001) in the yoga group after ten weeks and at follow-up. Additionally, significant changes were observed in biomarkers (BMI and BP) at different stages of the study (p<0.05, in all cases). The findings of this study reveal that the combined practice of pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation exhibits potential benefits in improving well-being and biomarker outcomes among university students.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on breathwork, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Effects of Yoga Respiratory Practice (Bhastrika pranayama) on Anxiety, Affect, and Brain Functional Connectivity and Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Frontiers in Psychiatry May 21, 2020
- Effect of Practicing Meditation, Pranayama, and Yoga on the Mental Health of Female Undergraduate Medical Students: An Interventional Study Cureus September 1, 2022
- Yoga Effects on Brain Health: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature. Brain plasticity December 26, 2019
- A critical analysis of the concepts and measurement of awareness and equanimity in Goenka's Vipassana meditation. Journal of Religion and Health April 1, 2015
- Mindfulness meditation, well-being, and heart rate variability: a preliminary investigation into the impact of intensive Vipassana meditation. International Journal of Psychophysiology September 1, 2013
and 2 more in the library