Effect of Yoga Intervention for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.
I-Jung Chen, Yuan-Sheng Tzeng, Shu-Yu Wu, Fong-Ching Chang
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine July 2026 DOI: 10.1177/27683605261419365 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Health care workers in India, Turkey, and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Interventions | Yoga Tailored yoga protocols |
| Duration | Intervention durations ranged from 2 to 12 weeks |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Covid-19 Health care workers Systematic review Yoga |
| Key findings | Across 11 included studies, yoga interventions consistently reduced stress, anxiety, and depression and improved sleep quality and quality of life among health care workers, with additional physiological benefits such as enhanced autonomic function and reduced inflammatory markers. The authors conclude that yoga is a valuable holistic support for health care workers in high-stress environments, while noting the overall quality of the included studies was moderate. |
Abstract
Health care workers (HCWs) faced unprecedented stress, anxiety, and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yoga, a mind-body practice combining physical postures, breathing, and meditation, has demonstrated benefits for mental and physical resilience. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of yoga interventions in addressing mental health challenges and promoting overall well-being among HCWs during the pandemic. This review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Comprehensive searches of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL were conducted up to November 2024 using terms including "yoga," "COVID-19," and "health care workers." Eligible studies involved HCWs receiving yoga interventions compared with nonyoga controls. Outcomes included stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and physiological parameters. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and observational studies were included. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (RoB 1.0). Certainty of evidence assessment was conducted with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Of 134 studies identified, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Participants included HCWs from India, Turkey, and the United States, with intervention durations ranging from 2 to 12 weeks. Yoga consistently reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, with improvements in sleep quality and quality of life. Physiological benefits included enhanced autonomic function and reduced levels of inflammatory markers. App-based and tailored yoga protocols showed potential for scalability and accessibility. The overall quality of the included studies was moderate. Yoga interventions demonstrated significant benefits in mitigating mental health challenges and enhancing overall well-being in HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the value of yoga as a holistic support for HCWs in high-stress environments.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Effects of a mindfulness-based interventions on stress, burnout in nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry August 3, 2023
- What Has Neuroimaging Taught Us on the Neurobiology of Yoga? A Review Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 8, 2020
- Mindfulness-based interventions for improving mental health of frontline healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. Systematic Reviews June 20, 2024
- A Systematic Review of Yoga Interventions on the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals and Students International Journal of Yoga May 5, 2025
- Effect of mindfulness yoga on anxiety and depression in early breast cancer patients received adjuvant chemotherapy: a randomized clinical trial Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology July 5, 2022
and 2 more in the library