IMPACT OF TELE YOGA ON MENTAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted almost every part of adolescent life such as school, friendships, daily routines, and mental well-being. Prolonged closures of schools, the sudden shift to online learning, and reduced opportunities for social interaction led to increases in stress, anxiety, and low mood in many young people. In Kerala, where adolescents already face academic pressure, lifestyle changes, and gaps in mental health services, these disruptions were felt even more sharply. Adolescence is a period of rapid change, and this developmental stage leaves young people more exposed to the effects of such upheavals. At the same time, their ease with technology makes them more open to digital ways of learning and connecting. Yoga has long been recognized for its role in reducing stress, improving emotional balance, and supporting overall well-being. For adolescents, it can help regulate emotions, build resilience, and improve quality of life. During the pandemic, the usual in-person classes were not an option, and this created the need to find alternative ways to deliver these benefits. Tele-yoga — yoga instruction provided live or pre-recorded through digital platforms — offered a practical solution, allowing continued practice from home while maintaining interaction with instructors. While there is solid evidence for the benefits of yoga in young people, very little is known about how well tele-yoga works for them, particularly in times of widespread disruption. Most existing studies focus on short-term, face-to-face interventions or on small, specific groups. There is a clear gap in understanding whether tele-yoga can be both effective and practical for adolescents in real world settings, especially when access to mental health support is limited. This study was conducted in Kerala during the lockdown and post-lockdown phases. It aims to provide evidence that could guide the use of tele-yoga not only during crises like the pandemic but also as a long-term, accessible approach to supporting adolescent well-being in schools and communities. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of tele-yoga in improving the mental health and quality of life of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic through a three-phase study. Objectives: 1. To assess the mental health, quality of life and well-being of adolescents during the pandemic lockdown. 2. To evaluate changes in the mental health and quality of life of adolescents through tele yoga intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. 3. To examine the adaptability and self-practice of tele-yoga among adolescents after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. METHODS This study was conducted in three phases to evaluate the impact of tele-yoga on the mental health and quality of life of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 1 involved evaluating adolescent mental health and well-being during the lockdown using standardized assessment tools. Study 2 (Intervention & Immediate Effects) implemented a structured tele-yoga intervention, while the control group received tele-exercises. Post-intervention assessments were conducted to measure immediate effects. Study 3 (Follow-Up Assessment) examined the three-month post impact of tele-yoga with respect to adaptability amongst school students. Participants The study included school-going adolescents who had experienced disruptions due to the pandemic. For the survey phase, data were obtained from 532 adolescents (63% girls, 37% boys) with a mean age of 15.2 ± 2.17 years, studying across 10 public and 9 private schools. In the subsequent intervention phase, 80 participants were equally allocated to the tele-yoga group and the control group. At the three-month post-intervention follow-up, a total of 46 participants were assessed to evaluate adaptability in the post-lockdown period. Design For the survey, a descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted. For the intervention, a two arm, parallel group, controlled trial design was adopted. Assessments To evaluate the impact of tele-yoga, the study used well-established tools to measure adolescent mental health and quality of life. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) helped assess emotional and behavioral well-being, while the WHOQOL-BREF provided a broader understanding of overall life satisfaction. Given the unique challenges of the pandemic, the Well Being of Children in Lockdown Scale (WCLS) was included to observe changes in daily routines, emotional health, and engagement in activities during lockdown. To understand the post-lockdown adaptability and coping amongst adolescents, a follow-up assessment was conducted three months post-intervention. A 20-item telephonic survey gathered feedback from both parents and students, offering valuable insights into how adolescents adapted to school reopening, maintained their yoga practice, and perceived its benefits. Within group and between group differences was assessed at pre and post interventions. Intervention The tele-yoga intervention, adopted from previous study and modified into online format, included fundamental yoga practices designed for adolescents. Sessions were conducted thrice weekly for 45 minutes for two months, while the control group participated in stretching and dynamic exercises for the same duration. RESULTS The study examined the impact of tele-yoga intervention on adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic through three phases: initial survey (n=532), the intervention study (n=65) and post lockdown adaptability (n=46). The survey revealed that parent-reported well-being were at moderate levels while the majority of students reported good control over their emotions and behavior and had a good quality of life. A strong majority (89.7%) preferred in-person schooling and the overall survey was seen as a meaningful self-reflective tool and an opportunity for self reflection. In the intervention phase, between groups analysis had shown that while both groups improved in various domains across SDQ and WHOQOL-BREF scales, tele-yoga showed more favorable outcomes for conduct problems, overall difficulties, social, overall QoL and overall health domains. Within-group analyses for WHOQOL-BREF showed significant improvements across all domains except overall health in the tele-yoga group, while there were no significant changes seen in the SDQ scale. The control group showed significant changes in emotions, conduct problems, total difficulty scores, and summary scores domains. Notably, the tele-yoga group's mean attendance rate was 65%, while the control group achieved 80%. The three-month post intervention data revealed varying adherence levels, with only 17.4% of the yoga group and 26.1% of the exercise group maintaining high practice frequency. Key challenges included lack of motivation (39%), time management issues (26%), and home distractions (34.8%). Notable benefits reported included improved mental well-being (43.5%) and enhanced physical health (34.8%). The findings suggest that while tele-yoga shows promise for improving adolescent well being, maintaining long-term engagement remains challenging in virtual formats. CONCLUSION Tele-yoga effectively enhances adolescents' mental health and quality of life compared to general exercise, particularly in emotional regulation and behavioral stability. While the intervention showed promising results, the study highlights both the potential of virtual yoga delivery and the need to address long-term practice sustainability.