Comparing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Adolescent Practitioners of Hatha Yoga and Recreational Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study compared mental health outcomes in adolescents who practice Hatha yoga versus recreational sports and found lower stress in the sports group, though confounding factors limit conclusions.

Contribution

The study provides preliminary comparative data on mental health benefits of yoga versus sports in adolescents.

Findings

Recreational sports participants had significantly lower stress scores than yoga practitioners.

Confounding factors like practice duration and age differences limit causal conclusions.

School-based sports programs may offer a scalable approach to adolescent mental health prevention.

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to psychiatric conditions, with depression, stress, and anxiety being particularly common. Prior research suggests that physical activities such as recreational sports and yoga may benefit mental health. However, limited comparative data exist on these interventions for managing adolescent mental health.

Aim: This study aimed to examine whether stress, anxiety, and depression levels differ between adolescent yoga and sports practitioners.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 190 adolescents was conducted, including 95 Hatha yoga practitioners and 95 recreational sports participants. Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare groups, with p≤0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Among 190 adolescents (95 per group), recreational sports participants demonstrated significantly lower stress scores (11.75±7.44 versus 13.70±6.18) and better overall mental health outcomes compared with Hatha yoga practitioners. Notable confounding factors included substantial differences in practice duration and age distribution between groups.

Conclusion: This cross-sectional study found better overall mental health outcomes and lower stress scores among recreational sports participants compared to yoga practitioners. However, substantial confounding factors, including differences in practice duration and demographics, limit causal interpretation. These preliminary findings require validation through controlled studies before clinical recommendations can be made. The results suggest that school-based recreational sports programs may offer a cost-effective, scalable approach to adolescent stress management and primary prevention of mental health conditions.

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