Yoga for Self-Care and Burnout Prevention Among Nurses
Abstract
The promotion of self-care and the prevention of burnout among nurses is a public health priority. Evidence supports the efficacy of yoga to improve physical and mental health outcomes, but few studies have examined the influence of yoga on nurse-specific outcomes. The purpose of this pilot-level randomized controlled trial was to examine the efficacy of yoga to improve self-care and reduce burnout among nurses. Compared with controls ( n = 20), yoga participants ( n = 20) reported significantly higher self-care as well as less emotional exhaustion and depersonalization upon completion of an 8-week yoga intervention. Although the control group demonstrated no change throughout the course of the study, the yoga group showed a significant improvement in scores from pre- to post-intervention for self-care ( p < .001), mindfulness ( p = .028), emotional exhaustion ( p = .008), and depersonalization ( p = .007) outcomes. Implications for practice are discussed.
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In the single yoga study by Alexander et al, the intervention group reported significant improvements in self-care as measured by the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile and mindfulness as measured by the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, as well as significant reductions in emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation postintervention.
“In the single yoga study by Alexander et al39 the intervention group reported significant improvements in self-care as measured by the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP II) and mindfulness as measured by the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) as well as significant reductions in EE and DP postintervention.”
From Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: a systematic review. (2023) · cites this paper as [39]
Two of the thirty individually focused studies implemented a meditation intervention and one implemented yoga.
“Two48 61 of the thirty individually focused studies implemented a meditation intervention and one39 implemented yoga.”
From Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: a systematic review. (2023) · cites this paper as [39]
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- Authors
- Alexander, G. K., Rollins, K., Walker, D., Wong, L., & Pennings, J.
- Affiliations
- Texas Christian University (US)
- The Wellness Center
- John Peter Smith Hospital (US)
- Elite Research, LLC
- Corresponding author
- Alexander, Gina K.
- Venue
- Workplace Health & Safety
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-09-29
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 462-470
- ISSN
- 2165-0799 (ISSN-L)
- 2165-0969
- OpenAlex
- W2399538850
- Cited by
- 180
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6
- FWCI
- 19.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Workplace Health & Safety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Burnout
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Keywords
- yoga, self-care, burnout prevention, nurses, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, mindfulness, occupational health, nurse well-being
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Burnout, Professional, Female, Health Promotion, Hospitals, Teaching, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nursing Staff, Hospital, Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Self Care, Stress, Psychological, Yoga, Multivariate Analysis, Occupational Health, Treatment Outcome, Risk Assessment
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