Promoting Altruism and Reducing Materialism Among School Children: Insights from an Indian Yoga-Based Moral Education Program

Abstract This article reports on a study with pupils of Amrita schools ( AS ) in India to examine the effect of yoga-based moral education on developing their altruistic potential and reducing materialism. Phase 2 altruism scores of the AS pupils were higher and materialism scores were lower vis-à-vis the comparison group and their own phase 1 scores, with moderate effect sizes ( Cohen’s d range=0.49–0.58, p =0.010–0.012). Within the AS cohort, at phase 2, girls, Hindus, middle class children, those whose mothers were their primary caregivers, single children, and those with above average scores on the self-reported religiosity and spirituality measures, most likely reported higher phase 2 scores on the altruism measure and lower on the materialism measure. The AS student program outlines a model of yoga-based moral education. Controlling or accounting for certain intervening variables, the AS program could be a prototype of value education in schools.