The Effect of a Yoga‐Based Stress Management Program on Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Psychological Well‐Being in Adolescents: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION: Globally increasing stress levels among adolescents pose a significant public health concern. Yoga-based interventions are gaining attention as effective and holistic approaches to mental health. This study aimed to examine the effects of a Yoga-Based Stress Management Program on adolescents' levels of perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 adolescents mean age = 16.9 ± 0.9 years; 77.5% female from eight high schools. The intervention group participated in a 4-week program consisting of weekly 50-min sessions integrating cognitive-behavioral stress management with Yin yoga practice, while the control group received a minimal-intervention condition (one-time brief stress education session). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Effect sizes are reported using partial eta squared (ηp²). RESULTS: Significant group × time interaction effects were found for all outcomes, with large effect sizes observed for depression (ηp² = 0.651), anxiety (ηp² = 0.734), perceived stress (ηp² = 0.753), psychological well-being (ηp² = 0.668), and yoga self-efficacy (ηp² = 0.759). Improvements in the intervention group were evident post-intervention and were largely maintained at follow-up. CONCLUSION: The Yoga-Based Stress Management Program was associated with meaningful improvements in adolescents' mental health and well-being. These findings suggest that integrating stress management with yoga may represent a promising school-based approach to support adolescent well-being, although further studies with active control conditions are warranted.