Effects of Yoga on Burnout and Happiness in Midwifery Students (EYBHMS)

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Midwifery Students

Treatments: Other: Yoga Practice (Non-pharmacological, Non-device)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07321132

TOGUE-13232362-804.01-295714

Details and patient eligibility

About

The health sector constitutes a highly stressful environment not only for professionals working in the field but also for students undergoing training. In particular, students studying in the health sciences experience stress due to various factors such as intensive theoretical coursework, practical training, clinical responsibilities, and shift duties. For midwifery students, who receive education in areas requiring a high level of responsibility such as women's health, the childbirth process, and newborn care, this level of stress may be even greater. Prolonged and intense stress can lead to the development of burnout among students, which may negatively affect psychological well-being, happiness, and academic performance.

In recent years, mindfulness-based practices have gained prominence as effective approaches for coping with stress, enhancing psychological resilience, and supporting mental well-being. One such practice is yoga, which is a holistic approach that includes physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation. Previous studies have demonstrated that yoga practices are effective in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout, while enhancing happiness, life satisfaction, and self-awareness. These findings indicate that yoga and similar practices are particularly beneficial for students studying in health-related fields.

Accordingly, the present study was conducted using a randomized controlled experimental design to evaluate the effects of yoga practice on burnout and happiness levels among midwifery students. The study was carried out with second-year students enrolled in the Midwifery Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University. Students were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in 60-minute yoga sessions three times per week for six weeks, while no intervention was applied to the control group. Burnout and happiness levels of the students were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Form and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the literature by highlighting the importance of interventions that support the mental health of midwifery students.

Full description

Mental well-being is of great importance for midwifery students to effectively utilize their professional skills. High school and university life may create stress for students due to structured and compulsory activities aimed at specific goals, such as passing examinations, fulfilling academic responsibilities, and obtaining a diploma. Prolonged exposure to stress may lead to burnout, which manifests as physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion and is considered a consequence of chronic stress.

Happiness is defined as the frequent experience of positive emotions, the relatively infrequent experience of negative emotions, and a high level of life satisfaction. It is associated with the prevalence of positive feelings such as trust, hope, and joy, as well as satisfaction derived from various life domains. Students' academic achievement is influenced by factors such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, motivation, and coping skills for managing stress.

In recent years, mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation have become increasingly widespread in educational institutions to help students cope with stress and enhance cognitive functioning. Yoga is a holistic practice consisting of postures (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation, and it has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while supporting overall well-being and cognitive processes. Studies have demonstrated that yoga practices are particularly effective in reducing perceived stress, enhancing well-being, and fostering positive emotions such as empathy and compassion among students in health-related fields.

In this context, the present study aims to compare burnout and happiness levels among midwifery students by forming experimental and control groups consisting of students who practice yoga and those who do not.

Enrollment: 72 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Female midwifery students. Not exercising at least two days per week. Not practicing yoga or other mindfulness-based activities. Able to attend scheduled yoga sessions at the designated location.

Exclusion criteria

Presence of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, or chronic systemic conditions preventing yoga practice.

Recent surgical procedures. Declined to provide consent for participation.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

Yoga Practice Program

Experimental group

Description:

Yoga Practice (Weeks 1-6): Each yoga session began with a 5-minute breathing exercise, which formed the first phase of the practice. This segment included a combination of different breathing techniques. Students were guided to breathe slowly and rhythmically while listening to calming background music, helping them first become aware of their natural breath and then regulate it consciously. Each session started with three selected breathing techniques, such as yogic breathing, alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana), and the 4-7-8 breathing method. Following the breathing exercises, participants engaged in a 40-minute asana (posture) practice, which included five standing poses, two transitional poses, and five seated poses, or the reverse order, depending on the session structure. Each yoga session concluded with 5 to 10 minutes of relaxation and meditation, promoting physical and mental calmness.

Treatment:

Other: Yoga Practice (Non-pharmacological, Non-device)

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

After randomization, students assigned to the control group were informed about the study. Written and verbal informed consent was obtained, and the socio-demographic information form was completed. No intervention was applied to the students in this group. They were only asked to complete the data collection forms (MBI-SS and OHQ-SF).