The Effect of Yoga on the Psychological Distress of Cancer Patients: An Analytical Study

Since holistic approaches to healing are rising, yoga therapy for cancer patients and cancer survivors is emerging as one of the more successful methods for combating the physical discomfort of cancer and cancer treatment. Aim The study is taken up to probe whether practising yoga effect the level of depression, anxiety, stress and psychological distress of the cancer patients. Design An experimental group design was used. Experimental group (yoga group (n=15)) and control group (n=15) were assigned for the study. The dependent variables were the participants pre-post difference in scores of depression, anxiety, stress and psychological distress. The independent variables were yoga. The study investigated the effect of yoga on the psychological distress of cancer patients. Participants The participants of the present study consisted of 30 cancer patients selected from hospitals in Trivandrum using purposive sampling method.15 cancer patients were selected for yoga based on their willingness for attending the intervention.15 cancer patients were kept as control group. Measures The tools used were Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21) developed by Lovibond, S. H. & Lovibond, P. F (1995), and Yoga instructions by an expert yoga instructor. The yoga practice included Surya Namaskar, Vakrasana, Trigonasana, Marjarasana, Uttanpadasana, Sankatasana, Pavanmuktasana, Tadasana and Pranayama. Data analysis Wilcoxon Paired Signed Rank Test was done to interpret the data. Findings The findings of the present study proved that yoga have significant effect in reducing the psychological distress of cancer patients. It is hoped that the outcome of this study will be beneficial for cancer patients.