Yoga for children and adolescents: A decade-long integrative review on feasibility and efficacy in school-based and psychiatric care interventions

Background: There has been a concerning rise in mental illness among children and adolescents. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression are the most prevalent diagnoses in this field. Research suggests that yoga as a complementary treatment offers relief from mental symptoms and has already been successfully applied in adult healthcare settings.

Objective: The objective of this review is to provide an integrative summary of the existing research on the feasibility and effectiveness of yoga as a school-based intervention and complementary intervention in psychiatric care for children and adolescents.

Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted, employing a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. The review was based on 16 selected articles, which presented data from more than 1000 children and adolescents aged 5-19 years and encompassed a variety of study designs. Literature searches were carried out systematically and unsystematically in February 2023, across three chosen databases.

Results: Yoga interventions consistently yielded positive outcomes in multiple domains. In this review, the findings are categorized into five themes: alleviated symptoms of psychiatric conditions; strengthened self-control and behavioral changes; improved cognitive functioning; refined relaxation; enhanced well-being. By improving psychiatric symptoms, enhancing self-control, promoting relaxation, and fostering overall well-being, yoga offers a multifaceted approach toward improving mental and physical health in children and adolescents.

Conclusion: This comprehensive review presents compelling evidence of the positive benefits of yoga as a complementary intervention for a wide range of psychological symptoms and cognitive functions in children and adolescents. In order to further validate and consolidate these findings, there is a pressing need for future studies to provide more robust evidence and a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary intervention in this context.