The Effect of Simplified Kundalini Yoga Practices on Perceived Stress among Medical Students
Abstract:
Medical students experience high levels of stress due
to rigorous academic demands, frequent examinations, and patient care
responsibilities. Persistent stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and
burnout, adversely impacting their well-being and academic performance.
Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY) has been recognised as a potential intervention
for stress management. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SKY
practices in reducing perceived stress among first-year medical students. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 132
first-year medical students (control: n=66, experimental: n=66) at Government
Erode Medical College Hospital, School of Nursing. Participants were screened
using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and those with moderate stress were
included. The experimental group underwent a structured 24-week SKY program,
while the control group received no intervention. Stress levels were assessed
at baseline (pre-test), after 12 weeks (post-test 1), and after 24 weeks (post-test
2). Data were analysed using ANCOVA and Bonferroni t-tests. The control group exhibited no significant change in
stress levels (p>0.05), whereas the experimental group showed a significant
reduction in PSS scores after SKY intervention (pre-test: 24.47 ± 2.66,
post-test 1: 17.18 ± 2.32, post-test 2: 14.05 ± 2.33, p<0.001). Stress
reduction was more pronounced among male students and those aged 19 years. SKY practices significantly reduced perceived stress
among medical students, demonstrating their potential as an effective,
non-pharmacological stress management tool. Integrating SKY into medical
curricula may enhance students' resilience and mental well-being.
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