Impact of Pregnancy Yoga on Maternal Mental Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Research

Abstract

This meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of pregnancy yoga on the mental health of women. Conducted without any temporal restrictions, our study collected data from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, and YÖK Thesis Center databases from September to December 2023. Following a thorough review, 9 studies were included in the analysis. Our meta-analysis indicated that the application of yoga during pregnancy significantly contributed to reducing depression (SMD: − 0.496, 95% CI: − 0.752 to −0.241; Z = − 3.807; P < .05) anxiety levels among pregnant women (SMD: − 0.739, 95% CI: − 1.22 to −0.256; Z = − 2.99; P < .05). The study concludes that yoga is an effective intervention for enhancing the mental health of pregnant women, leading to reduced anxiety and depression levels. Pregnancy yoga is suggested as a supportive practice to maintain the overall well-being – physical, mental, and spiritual – of expectant mothers, contributing to their adaptation to the challenges of parenthood by positively influencing the physiological and psychological transformations experienced during pregnancy.