Stress Management: A Randomized Study of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Yoga
Abstract
In this study, a stress management program based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles was compared with a Kundaliniyoga program. A study sample of 26 women and 7 men from a large Swedish company were divided randomly into 2 groups for each of the different forms of intervention; a total of 4 groups. The groups were instructed by trained group leaders and 10 sessions were held with each of groups, over a period of 4 months. Psychological (self-rated stress and stress behaviour, anger, exhaustion, quality of life) and physiological (blood pressure, heart rate, urinary catecholamines, salivary cortisol) measurements obtained before and after treatment showed significant improvements on most of the variables in both groups as well as medium-to-high effect sizes. However, no significant difference was found between the 2 programs. The results indicate that both cognitive behaviour therapy and yoga are promising stress management techniques.
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Stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) have a known influence on immune and cardiovascular functions and are important factors on the pathway between R/S involvement and health.
“Because stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) have a known influence on immune (and cardiovascular) functions, they are important factors on the pathway between R/S involvement and health [455, 456].”
From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [456]
Numerous studies have indicated that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in modifying dysfunctional cognitions and improving an individual's ability to deal with stressful events.
“Numerous studies have indicated that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in modifying dysfunctional cognitions and improving an individual's ability to deal with stressful events (Mok et al., 2014; Moeini et al., 2011; Granath et al., 2006).”
From Reducing nurses' stress: A randomized controlled trial of a web-based stress management program for nurses (2016) · cites this paper as Granath et al., 2006
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- Authors
- Granath, J., Ingvarsson, S., von Thiele, U., & Lundberg, U.
- Affiliations
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Lundberg, Ulf
- Venue
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2006-03
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-10
- ISSN
- 1650-6073 (ISSN-L)
- 1651-2316
- OpenAlex
- W2162638459
- Cited by
- 336
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 9.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy, Kundalini yoga, occupational stress, anger, exhaustion, quality of life, blood pressure, heart rate, urinary catecholamines, salivary cortisol, physiological stress measures, self-rated stress, group intervention
- MeSH terms
- Blood Pressure, Epinephrine, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Norepinephrine, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Yoga, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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