The Effectiveness of Prenatal Yoga in Reducing Anxiety and Improving Sleep Quality Among Pregnant Women A Randomized Controlled Trial
Main Article Content
Abstract
Anxiety and sleep disturbances are common complications during pregnancy, affecting maternal well-being and fetal development . Prenatal yoga has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for addressing these concerns . This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prenatal yoga in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality among pregnant women through a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed with 120 pregnant women (20-36 weeks gestation) randomized to intervention (n=60) and control (n=60) groups . The intervention group received 8 weeks of structured prenatal yoga sessions twice weekly, while the control group received standard antenatal care . Quantitative measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks . Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Significant reductions in anxiety levels were observed in the yoga group compared to controls (p < 0.001) . Sleep quality improved significantly in the intervention group, with PSQI scores decreasing from 7.2 ± 1.8 to 4.1 ± 1.2 (p < 0.001) . Qualitative themes revealed enhanced emotional regulation, increased self-efficacy, and improved pregnancy experiences. Prenatal yoga is an effective intervention for reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality during pregnancy . The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings provides comprehensive evidence supporting the implementation of prenatal yoga programs in maternal healthcare services.
Downloads
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
C. Yang, R. Fu, H. Wang, Y. Jiang, S. Zhang, and X. Ji, “Evaluating the global prevalence of insomnia during pregnancy through standardized questionnaires and diagnostic criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” Front. Psychiatry, vol. 15, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1427255.
R. P. Novianti, I. D. Nyoman Supariasa, D. I. S. Ika Setyarini, and A. Mustafa, “The Impact of Prenatal Yoga on Anxiety Levels in Third-Trimester Primigravida Mothers: A Pre-Experimental Study,” Int. J. Adv. Heal. Sci. Technol., vol. 4, no. 4, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.35882/ijahst.v4i4.334.
R. Silvestri and I. Aricò, “Sleep disorders in pregnancy,” Sleep Sci., vol. 12, no. 3, 2019, doi: 10.5935/1984-0063.20190098.
M. Guerroumi, A. Aquil, O. El Kherchi, S. Ait Bouighoulidne, M. Belhaj Haddou, and A. Elgot, “Evaluation of the relationship between restless legs syndrome, mental status, and sleep disorders among Moroccan women during their third trimester of pregnancy,” Ann. Med. Surg., vol. 86, no. 5, pp. 2626–2632, May 2024, doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001987.
Z. Najmi, N. Hosseini, S. Abdollahi Sabet, N. Yamani, and S. Tofighi, “Association of Sleep Disorders with Pregnancy Outcomes During the Third Trimester,” Mod. Care J., vol. 21, no. 2, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.5812/mcj-138165.
J. A. LoGiudice and S. Bartos, “Mixed-Methods Study of the Experience of Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” J. Obstet. Gynecol. Neonatal Nurs., vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 548–557, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2022.07.001.
D. Moher et al., “CONSORT 2010 Explanation and Elaboration: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials,” BMJ, vol. 340, no. mar23 1, pp. c869–c869, Mar. 2010, doi: 10.1136/bmj.c869.
Y. E. Yıldırım, P. Çetinay Aydın, A. İnan Ünlü, İ. Karaca, and M. Ekin, “Comparison of State–Trait Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth According to Attachment Styles of Pregnant Women,” J. Perinat. Neonatal Nurs., Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000844.
H. Bayrampour et al., “Feasibility and acceptability of collecting umbilical cord tissue for prenatal cannabis research: A mixed-methods research study,” Women’s Heal., vol. 19, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1177/17455057231219599.
R. Tutino, E. Schofield, R. M. Saracino, L. Walsh, E. Straus, and C. J. Nelson, “A survey of statistical methods utilized for analysis of randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions,” Palliat. Support. Care, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 221–225, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.1017/S1478951523000512.
L. Puspitasari and R. Rosalina, “Hypnobirthing Relaxation and Prenatal Yoga in Reducing Anxiety Levels Among Pregnant Women in Third Trimester,” J. Midwifery Jur. Kebidanan Politek. Kesehat. Gorontalo, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 94, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.52365/jm.v9i2.745.
K. Somere, M. Munkevics, R. Krams, G. Rača, S. Luoto, and I. Krams, “The effect of yin yoga intervention on state and trait anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Front. Psychiatry, vol. 15, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1345455.
Rahmi Andrita Yuda, “Effects of pregnancy-related anxiety on pregnancy outcomes,” World J. Adv. Res. Rev., vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 496–503, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.30574/wjarr.2025.25.1.3967.
M. Alghosi et al., “The effect of chronic yoga interventions on sleep quality in people with sleep disorders: a scoping review,” Front. Neurol., vol. 16, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1566445.
G. Chaudhary, S. Kakkar, S. Singh, U. Kumar, and R. Chaku, “The Role of Yogic Practices in Psychological Alteration: A Comprehensive Review,” Int. J. Ayurvedic Med., vol. 15, no. S1, pp. 181–183, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.47552/ijam.v15iS1.5592.