The Impact of Yoga on Body Image and Self-Acceptance

As early as 1980, Clance, Mitchell and Engelman reported findings from their study about body satisfaction. The team observed that low body-cathexis (or acceptance) correlates with low self-cathexis. In their study, the researchers randomly assigned twelve children to either an experimental group that received awareness training and a yoga class, or to a control group.

The children tested were Black and approximately 9-years-old. Participants of the study, identified by their gym teachers as having poor coordination and lacking interest in physical education, had the lowest scores on a subjective test that measured body satisfaction. Using a before-after two-group design, the team found that children who experienced awareness training with the yoga had increased body satisfaction, but there was no change in the control group scores. Despite the small number of participants, the study suggests that the practice of yoga may counteract the impact of some of the negative beliefs a person’s body image has on self-image--and especially in children who have been identified by their teachers as having a bad self-image.

As the researchers pointed out, “the relationship between mind and body has long been a consideration of psychology” (p. 82), and not every girl develops a positive attitude about her body. What their study suggests is that a yoga practice during early years could be the link to prevent a girl from developing negative attitudes about her body; it instead, encourages her to nurture positive ones about herself.

Reference

Clance, P., Mitchell, M., & Engelman, S. R. (1980). Body Cathexis in Children as a Function of Awareness Training and Yoga. Journal Of Clinical Child Psychology, 9(1), 82.

The Effects of a Yoga Practice on Women's Self-Concept and Coping Skills: A Scientific Study

In a recent journal article, a team of researchers reported results from their experiment about the effects the practice of Yoga has on women’s self-concept and coping methods (Dale, Carroll, Galen, Schein, Bliss, Mattison & Neace, 2011).  They grounded their experiment with the common assumption that Yoga reduces psychological stress, helps increase mindfulness and helps the individual focus in linking the body and mind.  For the study, they recruited and tested 47 (primarily Caucasian and educated) women between the ages of 17 and 66 years old who suffered abuse as children or in their adulthood.   

According to Dale et al. (2011), research indicates that both childhood and adulthood abuse negatively impact a person’s self-concept.  Also, abuse victims are at greater risk of developing dysfunctional coping mechanisms.  Thus, the researchers hypothesized that yoga would improve self-concept and decrease harmful coping techniques. In the experiment, data were gathered using multiple instruments: an abuse history questionnaire, a Yoga Experience Scale, a Profile Of Mood States questionnaire, the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, a COPE Inventory and a demographic and lifestyle questionnaire.

Using regression analysis, the researchers found statistical evidence that a Yoga practice is helpful to women who have experienced abuse.  Statistics showed that Yoga boosted the woman’s self-concept and improved her coping skills, regardless of whether or not the abuse occurred in child- or adulthood.  The results also indicated that when Yoga techniques are incorporated into more areas of life, and used for more than exercise alone, there is even greater benefit.

Reference

Dale, L. P., Carroll, L. E., Galen, G. C., Schein, R., Bliss, A., Mattison, A. M., & Neace, W. P. (2011). Yoga practice may buffer the deleterious effects of abuse on women's self-concept and dysfunctional coping. Journal Of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20(1), 89-101. doi:10.1080/10926771.2011.538005