Yoga's Effect on Quality of Life and Psychological Distress in Key Caregivers of Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Fourteen cancer caregivers participated in a six-week Vinyasa Yoga (VY) intervention and completed demographic items, psychological distress, measures of QOL, and open-ended questions. There was a significant difference and large effect (n2 =.47) in the total mood disturbance scores; t(13)= 3.43, p=0.005, 95% CI [8.6, 38.1]. There was no significant difference in the Physical Component Score; t(13)= 1.70, p=0.113, 95% CI [-.8, 6.8], n2 =0.18. There was a significant difference and large effect (n2 =.30) in the Mental Component Score; t(13)= -2.37, p=0.034, 95% CI [-12.9, -.6]. Additional analyses indicated that several subdomains of psychological distress and QOL were significant. Responses to the survey questions revealed participants perceived benefiting physically and mentally from the VY intervention, noting improvements in flexibility, core and upper-body strength, mindfulness, breathing, and energy. Although further and more rigorous exploration is required, this study provides support for the feasibility of VY with cancer caregivers.