Graduation Date
Summer 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Kinesiology
Committee Chair Name
Jill Anderson
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Jayne McGuire
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Rock Braithwaite
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Yoga, Intervention, High school, Students, Flexibility, Stress, Anxiety, Sun salutations, Fitnessgram, Paired t-test, Survey
Subject Categories
Physical Education
Abstract
This study examines the effect of a four-week school-based yoga intervention on the flexibility and stress/anxiety levels of high school students. Eighteen freshman students, aged 13-15, participated in two 30-minute yoga sessions per week. Students’ physical flexibility was measured using the sit-and-reach and shoulder stretch tests from the FitnessGram. Stress and anxiety levels were assessed using the SCARED survey and Perceived Stress Scale surveys. Results showed a statistically significant reduction in school avoidance anxiety (p = 0.025) and slight improvements in lower-body flexibility among students with initially low flexibility. Other subscales from the SCARED survey and flexibility testing did not show statistically significant changes. Although the short duration and small sample size limited the findings, the study supports the potential benefits of yoga for reducing school-related stress and improving physical well-being in adolescents.
Recommended Citation
Mccollum, Paige, "The effects of a yoga intervention on flexibility and stress of high school students" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2315.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2315