Effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) on the stress and self-esteem of medical doctors in a tertiary care hospital: a prospective analytical study.

Objectives: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a unique yoga practice incorporated into the Art of Living course. It is found to have a beneficial effect on different psychiatric disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of SKY practice on stress and self-esteem among medical doctors.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was conducted among medical doctors (interns, residents, and consultants) in a tertiary care center. The Perceived Stress Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used for the assessment of stress and self-esteem levels, respectively. The parameters were assessed at baseline, 3-day and 40-day follow-up of SKY practice. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25.

Results: A total of 58 participants were included in the study. The scores for stress decreased (19.07 to 18.62 to 16.33) and self-esteem levels increased (19.09 to 19.64 to 20.81) after the practice signifying the beneficial impact. It was statistically significant (<0.05) with considerable effect sizes (Cohen's 0.2-0.5 an >0.5 for self-esteem and stress levels, respectively). On MANOVA, gender (more in male participants) was significantly associated with stress levels even after the practice of SKY (=0.042).

Conclusion: Amid the hectic schedule, regular practice of SKY is proven beneficial for medical doctors with its positive impact on stress, and self-esteem levels by our study.