Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: While electroconvulsive therapy and antidepressants are standard treatments for depressed pregnant women, they are not without threats. The objective of this study was to quantitative synthesis of the literature regarding the effect of yoga interventions on depressive symptoms in pregnan...

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Main Authors: Sasinun Punsuwun, Sarah Oerther, Chuntana Reangsing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000441
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author Sasinun Punsuwun
Sarah Oerther
Chuntana Reangsing
author_facet Sasinun Punsuwun
Sarah Oerther
Chuntana Reangsing
author_sort Sasinun Punsuwun
collection DOAJ
description Background: While electroconvulsive therapy and antidepressants are standard treatments for depressed pregnant women, they are not without threats. The objective of this study was to quantitative synthesis of the literature regarding the effect of yoga interventions on depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Methods: Nine electronic databases were searched for primary studies with pregnant women with depression measured as outcomes and written in English. Based on the random-effects model, we used Hedges’ g to compute the effect size and examined the subgroup analysis. Results: We found twelve primary studies which included 738 participants who were 28.43 ± 1.92 years old across studies. The overall effect size using random-effects model was g = 1.120 (95%CI .52, 1.72, p < .001). Providing yoga to pregnant women with mood disorder had a lesser effect size (g = .10) than providing yoga to pregnant women without a mood disorder (g = 1.45). Funded studies had a lesser ES (g = .51) than those with unfunded (g = 1.98). Proving yoga in Eastern countries had a greater ES (g = 1.82) than providing yoga in Western (g = .40). No quality indicators showed moderator effects. Conclusion: When compared to controls, pregnant women who practiced yoga reported significantly improved depressive symptoms. Yoga might be an alternative complementary therapy that clinicians and other healthcare professionals might think about utilizing to help pregnant women who are depressed.
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spelling doaj-art-a7110518df4549d9ad9630073938e1082025-01-17T04:51:51ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41664Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysisSasinun Punsuwun0Sarah Oerther1Chuntana Reangsing2School of Nursing, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, ThailandGoldfarb School of Nursing, Barnes-Jewish College, Saint Louis City, MO, USASchool of Nursing, Mae Fah Luang University, Muang District, Chiangrai, Thailand; Nuring Innovation Research and Resource Unit, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand; Corresponding author. Mae Fah Luang University, Muang District, Chaingrai Province, Thailand.Background: While electroconvulsive therapy and antidepressants are standard treatments for depressed pregnant women, they are not without threats. The objective of this study was to quantitative synthesis of the literature regarding the effect of yoga interventions on depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Methods: Nine electronic databases were searched for primary studies with pregnant women with depression measured as outcomes and written in English. Based on the random-effects model, we used Hedges’ g to compute the effect size and examined the subgroup analysis. Results: We found twelve primary studies which included 738 participants who were 28.43 ± 1.92 years old across studies. The overall effect size using random-effects model was g = 1.120 (95%CI .52, 1.72, p < .001). Providing yoga to pregnant women with mood disorder had a lesser effect size (g = .10) than providing yoga to pregnant women without a mood disorder (g = 1.45). Funded studies had a lesser ES (g = .51) than those with unfunded (g = 1.98). Proving yoga in Eastern countries had a greater ES (g = 1.82) than providing yoga in Western (g = .40). No quality indicators showed moderator effects. Conclusion: When compared to controls, pregnant women who practiced yoga reported significantly improved depressive symptoms. Yoga might be an alternative complementary therapy that clinicians and other healthcare professionals might think about utilizing to help pregnant women who are depressed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000441YogaDepressionPregnant womenSystematic reviewMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Sasinun Punsuwun
Sarah Oerther
Chuntana Reangsing
Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Heliyon
Yoga
Depression
Pregnant women
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
title Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in women with pregnancy a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Yoga
Depression
Pregnant women
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000441
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