Effects of Yoga on Burnout and Happiness in Midwifery Students

NCT07321132 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: TOGUE-13232362-804.01-295714
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The health sector constitutes a highly stressful environment not only for professionals working in the field but also for students undergoing training. In particular, students studying in the health sciences experience stress due to various factors such as intensive theoretical coursework, practical training, clinical responsibilities, and shift duties. For midwifery students, who receive education in areas requiring a high level of responsibility such as women's health, the childbirth process, and newborn care, this level of stress may be even greater. Prolonged and intense stress can lead to the development of burnout among students, which may negatively affect psychological well-being, happiness, and academic performance. In recent years, mindfulness-based practices have gained prominence as effective approaches for coping with stress, enhancing psychological resilience, and supporting mental well-being. One such practice is yoga, which is a holistic approach that includes physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation. Previous studies have demonstrated that yoga practices are effective in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout, while enhancing happiness, life satisfaction, and self-awareness. These findings indicate that yoga and similar practices are particularly beneficial for students studying in health-related fields. Accordingly, the present study was conducted using a randomized controlled experimental design to evaluate the effects of yoga practice on burnout and happiness levels among midwifery students. The study was carried out with second-year students enrolled in the Midwifery Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University. Students were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in 60-minute yoga sessions three times per week for six weeks, while no intervention was applied to the control group. Burnout and happiness levels of the students were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Form and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the literature by highlighting the importance of interventions that support the mental health of midwifery students.

Conditions

Midwifery Students

Keywords

yoga; health; midwifery students; burnout; happiness; well-being

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Scale (MBI-SS)

  The scale consists of 13 items and includes three subscales: exhaustion, cynicism, and efficacy. The exhaustion subscale measures chronic fatigue and tension resulting from academic responsibilities. The cynicism subscale measures indifference toward school-related activities and a detached, disengaged attitude toward academic tasks. The efficacy subscale measures students' perception of their own academic competence. Score Range: 0-6 per item; higher scores on exhaustion and cynicism indicate worse burnout, while higher scores on efficacy indicate better perceived competence.

  Post-intervention at Week 6 for experimental group, Baseline (Week 0) for control group

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Oxford Happiness Questionnaire short form (OHQ-SF)

  Post-intervention at Week 6 for experimental group, Baseline (Week 0) for control group

Study Arms (2)

Yoga Practice Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Yoga Practice (Weeks 1-6): Each yoga session began with a 5-minute breathing exercise, which formed the first phase of the practice. This segment included a combination of different breathing techniques. Students were guided to breathe slowly and rhythmically while listening to calming background music, helping them first become aware of their natural breath and then regulate it consciously. Each session started with three selected breathing techniques, such as yogic breathing, alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana), and the 4-7-8 breathing method. Following the breathing exercises, participants engaged in a 40-minute asana (posture) practice, which included five standing poses, two transitional poses, and five seated poses, or the reverse order, depending on the session structure. Each yoga session concluded with 5 to 10 minutes of relaxation and meditation, promoting physical and mental calmness.

Other: Yoga Practice (Non-pharmacological, Non-device)

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

After randomization, students assigned to the control group were informed about the study. Written and verbal informed consent was obtained, and the socio-demographic information form was completed. No intervention was applied to the students in this group. They were only asked to complete the data collection forms (MBI-SS and OHQ-SF).

Interventions

Yoga Practice (Non-pharmacological, Non-device) OTHER

Each yoga session began with a 5-minute breathing exercise, which formed the first phase of the practice. This segment included a combination of different breathing techniques. Students were guided to breathe slowly and rhythmically while listening to calming background music, helping them first become aware of their natural breath and then regulate it consciously. Each session started with three selected breathing techniques, such as yogic breathing, alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana), and the 4-7-8 breathing method. Following the breathing exercises, participants engaged in a 40-minute asana (posture) practice, which included five standing poses, two transitional poses, and five seated poses, or the reverse order, depending on the session structure. Each yoga session concluded with 5 to 10 minutes of relaxation and meditation, promoting physical and mental calmness. No drugs, medical devices, or invasive procedures were used during the intervention.

Yoga Practice Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Midwifery students for women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Female midwifery students. Not exercising at least two days per week. Not practicing yoga or other mindfulness-based activities. Able to attend scheduled yoga sessions at the designated location.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, or chronic systemic conditions preventing yoga practice.
• Recent surgical procedures. Declined to provide consent for participation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University

Tokat Province, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ass. Prof. Dr.

Model Details: The research was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study. Participants were devided into two groups: yoga exercise group and control group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 2, 2025
• First Posted: January 6, 2026
• Study Start: June 13, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 16, 2023
• Study Completion: December 16, 2023
• Last Updated: January 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)