# Understanding the feasibility of yoga and compassion meditation for stress management in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in Nepal: a qualitative exploration

## TL;DR

A yoga and meditation program was found to be feasible and culturally appropriate for reducing stress in Nepali mothers of children with intellectual disabilities.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the feasibility of a yoga and compassion meditation program for stress management in a low-resource cultural context.

## Key findings

- The YCMP improved emotional and physical wellbeing and was seen as culturally appropriate.
- Time constraints were identified as a key barrier to regular practice.
- The program's low cost and non-invasive nature support further research and implementation.

## Abstract

Mothers caring for children with intellectual disabilities often experience high levels of stress and mental health challenges, underscoring the need for targeted health-promoting interventions.

This qualitative study explores the feasibility of brief yoga and compassion meditation training for stress management among mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in Nepal, focusing on their experiences and insights.

Twenty-four mothers participated in three separate focus group discussions (FGDs) each with a different group of participants and held in different locations, after completing a yoga and compassion meditation program (YCMP). Thematic analysis was used to explore the intervention’s feasibility, based on participants’ perception of its acceptability, practicality, appropriateness, adaptability, and implementation demands, along with challenges to address before broader application in health-promotion efforts.

Participants reported that the YCMP improved their emotional and physical wellbeing, was easily integrated into daily routines, was culturally and contextually appropriate, and met their desire for non-invasive interventions. The FGDs also revealed demands for such interventions. However, some participants noted challenges, notably time constraints, which limit their ability to engage in regular yoga and meditation practice.

The YCMP was valued as a culturally and contextually appropriate approach to managing caregiver stress. Adaptability, low cost, and non-invasive nature supports further research and potential implementation. In addition, insights from the FGDs provide guidance for the ongoing customization and expansion of the intervention.

● Main findings: A Yoga and Compassion Meditation Program (YCMP) improved wellbeing, was culturally appropriate, and practical for mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in Nepal, though time constraints limited its use.

● Added knowledge: Demonstrates that the YCMP is feasible and acceptable in a low-resource cultural context, with time constraints as a key barrier.

● Global health impact for policy and action: Supports integrating low-cost, culturally-adapted stress management interventions into health systems in resource-limited settings.