Exploring changes in mindfulness and body appreciation during yoga participation
Abstract
Evidence supports the positive role that yoga participation can play in predicting positive body image experiences. However, less is known about the mechanisms that might explain this relationship. The purpose of this study was to test for change in state and trait mindfulness and body appreciation as well as the relationship between change in trait mindfulness and change in body appreciation across 16 weeks of yoga participation. Participants (N = 376; M age = 20.45; 87% female) were recruited from for-credit yoga classes at a university. They completed measures of trait mindfulness and body appreciation at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the 16-week course. They also completed a measure of state mindfulness of the body that targeted their experience during yoga every other week after class. Latent growth curves were estimated for each variable and demonstrated significant (p < .001) positive change in trait mindfulness and body appreciation. The full structural model showed that the rate of change in trait mindfulness associated positively with the rate of change in body appreciation. This significant relationship supports the role that mindfulness may play in supporting growth in positive body image during yoga participation.
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A study of university students found significant improvements in trait mindfulness and body appreciation after 16 weeks of yoga.
“These results align with a study investigating mindfulness and body appreciation changes in university students that found significant improvements in trait mindfulness and body appreciation after participating in 16 weeks of yoga.”
In that study, the rate of change in trait mindfulness was positively associated with the change in body appreciation.
“The rate of change in trait mindfulness was positively associated with the change in body appreciation,54”
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Schulze, T., Hahn, E., Hahne, I., Bergmann, N., Fuchs, L. M., Mähler, F., Zierhut, M. M., Ta, T. M. T., Pijnenborg, G. H. M., & Böge, K. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.715670 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Cox, A. E., & McMahon, A. K.
- Affiliations
- Washington State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cox, Anne E.
- Venue
- Body Image
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-06
- Volume
- 29
- Pages
- 118-121
- ISSN
- 1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2923126159
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 13.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Body Image (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Keywords
- yoga, mindfulness, body appreciation, trait mindfulness, state mindfulness, positive body image, university students, longitudinal change
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Image, Female, Humans, Male, Yoga, Young Adult, Mindfulness
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