ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effect of Pranayama on Anxiety, Depression and Stress Levels in Post-Graduate Students: Correlation with Serum Cortisol and Hemoglobin Levels

Background: Anxiety, depression and stress (ADS) are prevalent mental health disorders among university students due to the demanding nature of their academic pursuits. Pranayama yogic breathing (PYB), a controlled breathing technique has been suggested as a potential intervention to alleviate these psychological maladies. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of PYB practices on ADS levels of post-graduate students (PGSs) while exploring the potential relationships with serum cortisol (SC) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Methods: 60 university students aged between 21 to 24 years were randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group participant (n=30) who practiced PYB for 45 minutes daily for three months and a control group participant (n=30) who did not receive any intervention. ADS levels were assessed using a standardized questionnaire ADSS, while SC levels and Hb were measured using laboratory tests. Data were collected at three states pre (before intervention), mid (after 45 days of intervention) and post (after 90 days of intervention). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 2.5.11 (110) Results: The results demonstrated that PGSs who underwent the PYB intervention exhibited significantly reduced anxiety, depression and stress compared to the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in SC levels and a significant increase in Hb levels after the intervention. Conclusion: PYB practice has been shown to significantly reduced ADS and positively influenced SC and Hb levels in PGSs. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and broader applicability of PYB on diverse populations.