Effect of an Eight-Weeks Yogic Intervention on Psychological Distress, Mental Well-being, and Physiological Regulation among Teenage Student-Athletes: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Adolescent athletes encounter compounded academic and competitive pressures that may elevate psychological distress and affect physiological recovery. Yoga, a structured mind‐body practice integrating physical postures, breathing regulation, and meditative practices, represents a potentially accessible strategy for supporting psychological well‐being and selected physiological indices in youth sport contexts. To evaluate the effects of an eight‐week structured yoga intervention on psychological distress, mental well‐being, and physiological regulation in competitive teenage athletes. Eighty‐eight district‐level teenage athletes (male: 52, female: 36; mean age 15.8 ± 1.4 years) were randomly allocated to a yoga intervention group (n = 44) or a wait‐list control group (n = 44). The intervention comprised daily 60‐min sessions (six days/week) of asana, pranayama, and dhyana over eight weeks. Psychological outcomes were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales‐21 (DASS‐21) and the Mental Health Inventory‐56 (MHI‐56). Physiological outcomes included resting heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), body temperature, and body mass index (BMI). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with baseline values as covariates, and mixed‐effects models were employed. The yoga group demonstrated significantly greater reductions across all DASS‐21 subscales relative to controls: depression (F (1,86) = 7.46, p = 0.008, Hedges' g = 0.62), anxiety (F (1,86) = 6.12, p = 0.015, g = 0.56), and stress (F (1,86) = 5.84, p = 0.018, g = 0.55). Mental well‐being improved significantly (F (1,86) = 9.03, p = 0.004, g = 0.65). Physiological outcomes showed significant reductions in resting HR (g = 0.58) and BMI (g = 0.42), alongside increased SpO₂ (g = 0.61); body temperature was unchanged. An eight‐week multicomponent yoga programme was associated with moderate‐to‐large improvements in psychological health and favourable changes in selected physiological outcome among adolescent athletes. These findings support structured yoga as a potentially useful adjunct within youth sport training environments; however, the physiological measures employed do not permit conclusions regarding specific autonomic mechanisms.