The Implications of Yoga As a Coping Mechanism for Stress During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 8-2021 The Implications of Yoga as a Coping Mechanism for Stress During the Covid-19 Pandemic Ellie Hunter Madenberg [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Recreational Therapy Commons Recommended Citation Madenberg, Ellie Hunter, "The Implications of Yoga as a Coping Mechanism for Stress During the Covid-19 Pandemic. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2021. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/6168 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Ellie Hunter Madenberg entitled "The Implications of Yoga as a Coping Mechanism for Stress During the Covid-19 Pandemic." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Recreation and Sport Management. Jason L. Scott, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Angela Wozencroft, Haley Griffiths Accepted for the Council: Dixie L. Thompson Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) THE IMPLICATIONS OF YOGA AS A COPING MECHANISM FOR STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC A Thesis Presented for the Master of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ellie Hunter Madenberg August 2021 Acknowledgements First, I would like to thank my advisor and mentor, Dr. Jason Scott, for his guidance throughout my graduate studies and thesis work. I would also like to thank my committee members Dr. Angela Wozencroft and Dr. Haley Griffiths for their patience and assistance with my research. Next, I would like to thank the Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sports Studies department at the University of Tennessee for allowing me this research opportunity. I would also like to thank everyone at North Shore Dojo for providing me with the proper background and knowledge to attend the recreational therapy graduate program at the University of Tennessee. Most importantly, I would like to thank my parents, Andrew, and Gerri, for their continuous love and support through every stage of my life. I would especially like to thank my brother Coby for always pushing me to work hard, be the best version of myself, and show love no matter what. ii Abstract The Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely devastating across the globe. In the United States specifically, Covid-19 has taken over 545,000 lives and climbing. Over the past year of the pandemic, the rate of mental health concerns has grown significantly. Yoga has been paralleled in growth throughout the course of pandemic with countless new yoga students and advanced students who have dove deeper into the yoga practice. The study examined the perceived stress levels of yogis and using yoga as a leisure coping strategy for stress reduction during the Covid-19 pandemic. A survey was sent via email to yoga instructors known by the researcher. The survey was also posted on five different yogi Facebook pages. 67 completed surveys were received and analyzed using various statistical tests. The quantitative results were analyzed by descriptive statistics, single sample, and independent sample t-test, cohen’s d, and correlations. The tests were conducted to compare the results of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Leisure Stress Coping Scale (LCSS) with days practiced weekly, level of practice, and years of practice. The results showed a benefit to using yoga to reduce stress in yogis during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yoga was also found to be beneficial for coping with stress and stress related symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic. iii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction and General Information .......................................................................... 1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................ 3 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 4 Delimitations ............................................................................................................................... 4 Definitions................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Review of Literature ..................................................................................................... 6 The History of Yoga ................................................................................................................... 6 Yoga and Leisure Stress Coping Framework ........................................................................... 12 Leisure-Stress Coping Framework ............................................................................................... 13 Recreational Therapy and Yoga................................................................................................ 16 Chapter 3: Materials and Methods ................................................................................................ 20 Procedure .................................................................................................................................. 20 Instrumentation ......................................................................................................................... 20 Sample....................................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 4: Results ......................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 5: Discussion ................................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................. 38 References ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix A- Survey and Scales ................................................................................................... 50 Appendix B- Tables ...................................................................................................................... 53 VITA ............................................................................................................................................. 55 iv List of Tables Table 1…………………………………………………………………………………………52 Table 2…………………………………………………………………………………………52 Table 3…………………………………………………………………………………………52 Table 4…………………………………………………………………………………………53 Table 5…………………………………………………………………………………………53 Table 6…………………………………………………………………………………………53 v List of Figures Figure 1…………………………………………………………………………………………13 vi Chapter 1: Introduction and General Information The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the United States with approximately 30 million reported cases and over 545,000 deaths (CDC, 2021) in the United States. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) timeline of Covid-19, in December 2019, there was a “reported cluster of atypical pneumonia cases from Wuhan, China” (WHO, 2020 p.1). In early January 2020, the cases were reported by “Chinese health authorities that the pneumonia was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) better known now as, the novel coronavirus” (WHO, 2020, p.1). On January 31, 2020 the Covid-19 outbreak was classified as a public health emergency (CDC, 2020). As international travel continued, Covid- 19 was officially declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (WHO, 2020). Throughout mid-March and early April of 2020, states across the United States began to implement strongly suggested stay-at-home orders to reduce the transmission and contamination of Covid-19 through face-to-face contact (CDC, 2020). By June 2020, mask requirements and social distancing became mandatory throughout most states in public spaces to potentially prevent the spread of the virus (CDC, 2020). The various nationwide shutdowns, stay-at-home orders, business, and school closures caused a tremendous amount of stress for many citizens (Zhai, et al., 2020). The effects of the stay-at-home orders coupled with restrictions on large gatherings (5+ individuals) and being strongly encouraged to limit personal contact to only within the household has resulted in a rise of mental health concerns such as stress among individuals (Zhai, et al., 2020). As closures continued, many stress reducing recreation and leisure activities such as yoga/mindfulness, tourism, social gatherings, indoor gym/studio activities were limited in scope and capacity. 1 The negative psychological effects of stress from the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders began to rise. Individuals had to become creative towards independent