Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of hatha yoga and african dance on perceived stress, affect, and salivary cortisol

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Dance and yoga have been shown to produce improvements in psychological well-being.Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine some of the psychological and neuroendocrine responses to these activities.Methods: Sixty-nine healthy college students participated in one of three 90-min classes: African dance (n = 21), Hatha yoga (n = 18), or a biology lecture as a control session (n = 30). Before and after each condition participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), completed the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, and provided a saliva sample for cortisol.Results: There were significant reductions in PSS and negative affect (ps < .0001) and Time × Treatment interactions (ps < .0001) such that African dance and Hatha yoga showed significant declines, whereas there was no significant change in biology lecture. There was no significant main effect for positive affect (p = .53), however there was a significant interaction effect (p < .001) such that positive affect increased in African dance, decreased in biology lecture, and did not change significantly in Hatha yoga. There was a significant main effect for salivary cortisol (p < .05) and a significant interaction effect (p < .0001) such that cortisol increased in African dance, decreased in Hatha yoga, and did not change in biology. Changes in cortisol were not significantly related to changes in psychological variables across treatments. There was 1 significant interaction effect (p = .04) such that change in positive affect and change in cortisol were negatively correlated in Hatha yoga but positively correlated in African dance and biology.Conclusions: Both African dance and Hatha yoga reduced perceived stress and negative affect. Cortisol increased in African dance and decreased in Hatha yoga. Therefore, even when these interventions produce similar positive psychological effects, the effects may be very different on physiological stress processes. One factor that may have particular salience is the amount of physiological arousal produced by the intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hoffman C, Rice D, Sung HY: Persons with chronic conditions: Their prevalence and costs.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1996,276:1473–1479.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mayer EA, Craske M, Naliboff BD: Depression, anxiety, and the gastrointestinal system.Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2001,62:28–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Johnston-Brooks CH, Lewis MA, Evans GW, Whalen CK: Chronic stress and illness in children: The role of allostatic load.Psychosomatic Medicine. 1998,60:597–603.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wolkowitz OM, Epel ES, Reus VI: Stress hormone-related psychopathology: Pathophysiological and treatment implications.World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. 2001,2: 115–143.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, et al.: Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: Results of a follow-up national survey.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998,280:1569–1575.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Berger BG, Owen DR: Mood alteration with yoga and swimming: Aerobic exercise may not be necessary.Perception and Motor Skills. 1992,75:1331–1343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schmidt T, Wijga A, Von Zur Muhlen A, et al.: Changes in cardiovascular risk factors and hormones during a comprehensive residential three month kriya yoga training and vegetarian nutrition.Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. 1997,640(Suppl.): 158–162.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Garfinkel MS, Singhal A, Katz WA, et al.: Yoga-based intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized trial.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998,280:1601–1603.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Schell FJ, Allolio B, Schonecke OW: Physiological and psychological effects of Hatha-yoga exercise in healthy women.Internation Journal of Psychosomatics. 1994,41:46–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kamei T, Toriumi Y, Kimura H, et al.: Decrease in serum cortisol during yoga exercise is correlated with alpha wave activation.Perception and Motor Skills. 2000,90:1027–1032.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cruess DG, Antoni MH, Kumar M, Schneiderman N: Reductions in salivary cortisol are associated with mood improvement during relaxation training among HIV-seropositive men.Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2000,23:107–122.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Field T, Ironson G, Scafidi F, et al.: Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations.International Journal of Neuroscience. 1996,86: 197–205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. McKinney CH, Antoni MH, Kumar M, et al.: Effects of guided imagery and music (GIM) therapy on mood and cortisol in healthy adults.Health Psychology. 1997,16:390–400.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lane AM, Lovejoy DJ: The effects of exercise on mood changes: The moderating effect of depressed mood.Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 2001,41:539–545.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bartholomew JB, Miller BM: Affective responses to an aerobic dance class: The impact of perceived performance.Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2002,73:301–309.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cohen SO, Walco GA: Dance/movement therapy for children and adolescents with cancer.Cancer Practice. 1999,7:34–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Noreau L, Martineau H, Roy L, Belzile M: Effects of a modified dance-based exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness, psychological state and health status of persons with rheumatoid arthritis.American Journal of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation. 1995,74:19–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Howlett TA: Hormonal responses to exercise training: A short review.Clinical Endocrinology. 1987,26:723–742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dickerson S, Kemeny ME: Acute stressors and cortisol responses: A theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research.Psychological Bulletin. 2004,130:355–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R: A global measure of perceived stress.Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1983,24:386–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Watson D, Clark LE, Tellegen A: Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1988,54:1063–1070.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Buchanan TW, al’ Absi M, Lovallo WR: Cortisol fluctuates with increases and decreases in negative affect.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1999,24:227–241.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Clark L, Iversen SD, Goodwin GM: The influence of positive and negative mood states on risk taking, verbal fluency, and salivary cortisol.Affective Disorders. 2001,63:179–187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Perna FM, Antoni MH, Kumar M, Cruess DG, Schneiderman N: Cognitive-behavioral intervention effects on mood and cortisol during exercise training.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1998,20:92–98.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 300 Pasteur Drive, Suite G310, 94305, Stanford, CA

    Jeremy West B.A.

  2. San Francisco VA, and University of California, San Francisco

    Christian Otte M.D.

  3. Reed College, USA

    Kathleen Geher Ph.D.

  4. Oregon Health Sciences University, USA

    Joe Johnson M.S.

  5. University of California, San Francisco

    David C. Mohr Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Jeremy West B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christian Otte M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kathleen Geher Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joe Johnson M.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. David C. Mohr Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeremy West B.A..

Additional information

This research was supported by grants from the General Clinical Research Center of Oregon Health Sciences University and Reed College.

About this article

Cite this article

West, J., Otte, C., Geher, K. et al. Effects of hatha yoga and african dance on perceived stress, affect, and salivary cortisol. ann. behav. med. 28, 114–118 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2802_6

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2802_6

Keywords

Search

Navigation