Empirical Research of the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga,
by subtopic
07/07/2020 update:
This is an almost-complete list of the empirical research I’ve done related to yoga for mental health. Please see my separate page on exercise/physical activity, broadly, if you’re interested in more! I’ll be gradually uploading the rest of my research, which you can access from my research main page.
Links to abstracts for all peer-reviewed publications are included; just click on the gray DOI at the end of the reference. Links to conference symposia abstracts and full versions of conference posters will be uploaded soon. In the meantime, please let me know if you’d like me to send you a FULL version of anything listed below.
* = asterisk indicates student/mentee author.
***BOLDED = the more important, impactful, and/or “primary” studies. That is, if you only have time to dig into a couple, choose these.
Yoga for
Stress Reactivity and
Disordered Eating
Peer-reviewed manuscripts:
***Hopkins LB, Medina JM, Baird SO*, Rosenfield D, Powers MB, & Smits JAJ. (2016). Heated hatha yoga to target cortisol reactivity to stress and affective eating in women at risk for obesity-related illnesses: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84, 558-564. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000091
[link to full 2014 dissertation abstract]
Baird SO*, Hopkins LB, Medina JL, Rosenfield D, Powers MB, & Smits JAJ. (2015). Distress tolerance as a predictor of adherence to a yoga intervention: Moderating roles of BMI and body image. Behavior Modification, 40, 199-217.
doi: 10.1177/0145445515612401
***Medina JL, Hopkins LB, Baird SO*, Powers MB, & Smits JAJ. (2015). The effects of a hatha yoga intervention on facets of distress tolerance. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 44, 288-300. doi: 10.1080/16506073.2015.1028433
Shallit S* & Hopkins LB (2018 dissertation, in preparation for publication). Yoga’s effects on depression and anxiety symptoms: Evaluating the mediating roles of mindfulness and self-compassion. [link to dissertation abstract]
Conference presentations:
Hopkins LB, Medina JL, Baird SO*, & Smits JAJ. (2018, April). Adherence and acceptability of a Bikram Yoga intervention: The roles of stress, distress tolerance, BMI, and body image. In J. Jacquart (Chair), Exercise for Mental Health: Impact of Exercise Prescription Variables and Adherence on Clinical Outcomes. Symposium presented at the 38th annual ADAA conference, Washington, DC.
Hopkins LB, Schaumberg K, Kilpela LS, & Smits JAJ. (2017, November). Emotion regulation mechanisms of a yoga intervention for eating pathology. In M. Sala (Chair), Exercise in individuals with disordered eating: How and for whom might it be beneficial? Symposium accepted to the 51st Annual Convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), San Diego, CA.
Hopkins LB, Medina JL, & Smits JAJ. (2016, July). Bikram yoga for stress reactivity and emotional eating. Oral presentation at the 1st annual Pure Action Yoga Research Conference, Austin, TX.
Baird SO*, Medina JL, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2015, April). Distress tolerance predicts adherence to a yoga intervention. Poster presented at the 35th annual ADAA conference, Miami, FL.
Pantoni M*, Mullarky M*, Medina JL, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2015, April). Being kind to yourself under pressure: Self-compassion is indirectly associated with decreased anxiety sensitivity via distress tolerance. Poster presented at 35th annual ADAA conference, Miami, FL.
Medina JL, DeBoer (Hopkins) LB, & Smits JAJ. (2014, March). Evaluating a hatha yoga intervention for distress tolerance. Poster presented at the 34th annual ADAA conference, Chicago, IL.
Hopkins LB, Medina JL, & Smits JAJ. (2015, April). Yoga for cortisol stress reactivity and maladaptive eating behavior. In L. B. Hopkins & J. L. Medina (Co-chairs), Yoga for mental health: New research on feasibility, mechanisms, and outcomes. Symposium conducted at the 35th annual ADAA conference, Miami, FL.
Medina JL, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2015, April). Heated hatha yoga enhances mindfulness among women low in distress tolerance. In L. B. Hopkins & J. L. Medina (Co-chairs), Yoga for mental health: New research on feasibility, mechanisms, and outcomes. Symposium conducted at the 35th annual ADAA conference, Miami, FL.
DeBoer (Hopkins) LB, Medina JL, Baird SO*, Murcia V*, & Smits JAJ. (2014, March.) Targeting stress reactivity and stress-induced eating with Hatha yoga. In K. Timpano (Chair), Recent advances in understanding the relationship between stress and affective disorders. Symposium conducted at the 34th annual ADAA conference, Chicago, IL.
Medina JL, DeBoer (Hopkins) LB, Baird SO*, & Smits JAJ. (2014, March). Effects of hatha yoga on anxiety symptomology. In M. G. Fetzner (Chair), Lace up your shoes, hop on your bike, and roll out your mat: Physical exercise as interventions for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders and associated risk factors. Symposium conducted at the 34th annual ADAA conference, Chicago, IL.
Grant funding:
2013
Title: The effects of Bikram Yoga on cortisol reactivity to stress
Sponsor: Pure Action, Inc. (501c3 nonprofit organization)
Principal Investigator: Lindsey Hopkins
Yoga for Depression
and
Optimization
Strategies
Peer-reviewed manuscripts:
***Nyer MB, Hopkins LB, Farabaugh A, Nauphal M, Parkin S, McKee MM, Miller KK, Streeter C, Uebelacker, LA, Fava M, Alpert JE, & Mischoulon D. (2019). Community-delivered heated hatha yoga as a treatment for depressive symptoms: A pilot study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. doi: 10.1089/acm.2018.0365
***Nyer MB, O’Hair CM, Hopkins LB, Roberg R, Norton R*, Streeter C. (2019). Yoga as a treatment for depression: Applications for mental health practitioners. Psychiatric Annals, 49(1), 11-15. doi: 10.3928/00485713-20181203-01
Conference presentations:
Hopkins, LB. (2020, March). Participant demographic characteristics and limitations in an RCT of a yoga intervention. In M. Nyer (Chair), Barriers to Participation in Yoga-Based Therapeutic Interventions. Symposium accepted to the 40th annual Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) conference, San Antonio, TX.
Hopkins, LB. (2020, March). Effects of an 8-week Bikram Yoga intervention on depression, anxiety, and potential transdiagnostic mechanisms of action. In R. Krakauer (Chair), Sweat the Fret: Exploring Exercise Interventions for Depression and Anxiety-Related Symptoms. Symposium accepted to the 40th ADAA conference, San Antonio, TX.
Hopkins LB, Lasher B, Rape A, Harris E, & Pennington D. (2017, August). Effects of a hatha yoga intervention on depressive symptoms in male military veterans. In L. B. Hopkins (Chair), Yoga for depression: New research on efficacy, mechanisms, and acceptability. Symposium conducted at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA), Washington, DC.
Shallit S*, & Hopkins LB. (2017, August). The roles of mindfulness and self-compassion in yoga’s effects on depressive symptoms in women. In L. B. Hopkins (Chair), Yoga for depression: New research on efficacy, mechanisms, and acceptability. Symposium conducted at the 125th Annual Convention of the APA, Washington, DC.
Hopkins LB (2017, July). Yoga for depression: Two trials examining efficacy, mechanisms, and acceptability. In F. Legrand (Chair), The effects of exercise on anxiety, depression, and associated unhealthy behaviors. Symposium accepted to the 14th World Congress of ISSP, Sevilla, Spain.
Shallit S*, Medina JM, Smits JAJ, & Hopkins LB. (2017, April). Effects of a hatha yoga intervention on anxiety and depressive symptoms: Mediating roles of mindfulness and self-compassion. Poster presented at the 37th annual ADAA conference, San Francisco, CA.
Hopkins LB. (2016, November). Yoga and mental health. Oral presentation given to clinical staff, trainees, and patients as part of a series hosted by the SFVAMC Mindfulness Working Group, San Francisco VA Medical Center, CA.
Hopkins LB, Medina JL, Baird SO*, & Smits JAJ. (2015, April). Effects of a hatha yoga intervention on anxiety and depressive symptoms in women. Poster presented at the 35th annual ADAA conference, Miami, FL.
Popular media coverage:
Henderson J (Interviewer) & Hopkins LB (Interviewee). (recorded December 11, 2017). [Multi-episode piece on Bikram Yoga]. ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts. Broadcast scheduled for April 2018.
Available from: https://30for30podcasts.com/bikram/
Silwa J. (2017, August 3). Yoga Effective at Reducing Symptoms of Depression. American Psychological Association (press release).
Available from: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/08/yoga-depression.aspx
Lowry F. (2015, April 13). Hot yoga cools anxiety, relieves depression. Medscape Medical News.
Available from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/843017
Grant funding:
NIH NCCIH U01 grant application currently under review:
Topic: Heated hatha yoga for clinical depression: RCT testing adherence-boosting approaches, for increasing intervention outcomes.
Principal Investigator: Maren Nyer, PhD
My Role: Primary Data Analyst; Consultant on research design, measurement, and Bikram Yoga practice and its application as a mental health intervention.
Study Locations: (1) Harvard University/Mass. General Hospital (primary), (2) Emory University (second study site)
Yoga for Smoking Cessation
Peer-reviewed manuscripts:
Medina JL, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ (2017 dissertation, in preparation for publication). Biobehavioral mechanisms underlying the effects of yoga on nicotine withdrawal. [link to abstract and full dissertation]
Conference presentations:
Tunnell NC*, Medina JL, Agrawal A, Kwon DS, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2020, April). Examining the bidirectionality of transdiagnostic targets, distress intolerance, and mindfulness. Poster accepted to the 40th annual Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) conference, San Antonio, TX.
Medina JL, Tunnel NC*, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2018, April). Barriers of yoga intervention adherence for anxiety sensitive smokers: Do the very targets of treatment prevent participants from going? In J. Jacquart (Chair), Exercise for Mental Health: Impact of Exercise Prescription Variables and Adherence on Clinical Outcomes. Symposium presented at the 38th annual ADAA conference, Washington, DC.
Medina JL, Hopkins LB, Pantoni M*, Tunnell N*, & Smits JAJ. (2017, November). Effects of an 8-week hatha vinyasa yoga intervention on anxiety sensitivity and smoking abstinence. Poster accepted to the 51st Annual Convention of ABCT, San Diego, CA.
Medina JL, Tunnel NC*, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2017, April). Yoga as a complementary treatment to target core processes of tobacco relapse in anxiety sensitive smokers: Rationale, study design and participant characteristics of a randomized pilot trial. Poster presented at the 37th annual ADAA conference, San Francisco, CA.
Medina JL, Tunnell N*, Hopkins LB, & Smits JAJ. (2016, April). Preliminary evidence of yoga's ability to target anxiety-related factors contributing to smoking maintenance and relapse. Poster presented at the 36th annual ADAA conference, Philadelphia, PA.