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Psychobiological Mechanisms Underlying the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga-Based Interventions: a Narrative Review

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Abstract

Objectives

A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of action is important if yoga-based interventions are to be used in the prevention and/or treatment of mental health symptoms. We, therefore, aimed to examine the evidence base and mechanisms underlying the benefits of yoga-based interventions on mental health, with a focus on psychological, physiological and neurobiological mechanisms.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted of scoping reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analysis of yoga-based interventions with a focus on psychological, physiological and neurobiological mechanisms linking yoga-based interventions with mental health. A single author conducted a search of the literature using a number of databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar). Search terms included but were not limited to “yoga*”, “asana*,” “psych*”, “neuro*”, “stress”, “autonomic”, “mental illness”, “mental health”, “cytokine” and “endocrine”.

Results

A total of 22 studies were included in this narrative review. These studies report that yoga-based interventions decrease stress reactivity, influence physiological markers of stress reactivity including changes in blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol or cytokine levels, resulting in overall improved health and well-being, in diverse populations of adults. Yoga-based interventions influence psychological processes involved in the regulation of mood and emotion, including self-compassion, dispositional mindfulness, rumination, meta-cognition, attention and memory. Finally, yoga-based interventions result in structural and functional changes in several brain regions.

Conclusions

Yoga-based interventions impact multiple processes of mental health; however, further research should explore the potential interaction between these processes as it is possible that effects may be synergistic rather than in silos.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, 3011, Australia

    Michaela C. Pascoe, Peter A. Baldwin & Alexandra G. Parker

  2. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

    Michaela C. Pascoe

  3. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia

    Michael J. de Manincor

  4. Epidemiology of Psychiatric Conditions, Substance Use and Social Environment (EPiCSS), Department of Global Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden

    Mats Hallgren

  5. Black Dog Institute, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia

    Peter A. Baldwin

  6. VIA University College, Aarhus, Denmark

    Jana Tseberja

  7. Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Alexandra G. Parker

Authors
  1. Michaela C. Pascoe
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  2. Michael J. de Manincor
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  3. Mats Hallgren
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  4. Peter A. Baldwin
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  5. Jana Tseberja
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  6. Alexandra G. Parker
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Contributions

MCP: designed and executed the study, analyzed the data and wrote the paper. MdM: collaborated with the design and writing of the study. MH: collaborated with the design and writing of the study. PB: collaborated with the design and writing of the study. JT: collaborated with analyzing the data and the writing of the study. AP: collaborated with the design and writing of the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michaela C. Pascoe.

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Informed consent was not required for the conduct of this narrative review as no participants were involved.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Pascoe, M.C., J. de Manincor, M., Hallgren, M. et al. Psychobiological Mechanisms Underlying the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga-Based Interventions: a Narrative Review. Mindfulness 12, 2877–2889 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01736-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01736-z

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