Abstract
This article reports a study on the effectiveness of yoga to build resilience and fortitude among victims of school bullying. A cohort of children who underwent an older adult volunteer taught yoga education programme (OAVYEP) were compared with a cohort who underwent a young volunteer taught yoga education programme (YVYEP). The OAVYEP and YVYEP had a common repertoire of face-to-face yoga lessons. The OAVYEP had additional components of home practice or do-it-yourself exercises and additional session time comprising experience and anecdotal sharing by older adults. Results indicated that participants who underwent the OAVYEP reported greater resilience and fortitude post-test. Outcome scores were higher for intervention group girls, middle class, with mother as primary caregiver, and living in standard family arrangements. Attendance at OAVYEP lessons and home practice mediated the relationship between demographic predictors and outcomes. The OAVYEP is an effective intervention to address concerns of bullying victims in US schools.
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There is no registered funder to report for the study. Acknowledgements are due to all the older adult and young volunteers who participated in the study voluntarily. The study conforms to the guidelines prescribed in the Declaration of Helsinki, 1975, and its subsequent amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Pandya, S.P. Building Resilience and Fortitude Among Victims of School Bullying: Lessons from a Customized Yoga Education Program by Older Adult Volunteers. Contemp School Psychol 26, 328–340 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00329-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00329-2