Psychosocial Effects of a Holistic Ayurvedic Approach to Well-being in Health and Wellness Courses
Authors
Sheila MD
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of
Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Stephen BS
Integrative Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington,
District of Columbia
Christine PhD
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of
Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Lizabeth BA
Mind-Body Medical Group, The Chopra Center for Wellbeing,
Carlsbad, California
Deepak MD
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of
Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Paul PhD
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of
Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Short abstract
As individuals are increasingly attending health and wellness courses outside of the conventional medical system, there is a need to obtain objective data on the effects of those programs on well-being.
Methods
In total, 154 men and women (mean age 54.7 years; range 25–83) participated in 3 different holistic wellness programs based on Ayurvedic Medicine principles (Seduction of Spirit, Journey into Healing, and Perfect Health) or a vacation control group. Psychosocial outcomes included spirituality (Delaney Spirituality Scale), mindful awareness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire), mood (Center for Epidemiology Studies-Depression), and anxiety (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement System Anxiety Scale).
Results
Participants in the Seduction of Spirit (P < .004), Journey into Healing (P < .05), and Perfect Health (P < .004) courses showed significant increases in spirituality as compared to vacation controls. Participants in Seduction of Spirit (P < .007) also showed significant increases in mindfulness as compared to vacation controls. Participants in the Seduction of Spirit (P < .001) and Journey into Healing (P < .05) courses showed significant decreases in depressed mood as compared to those in the Perfect Health and vacation control groups. All study participants showed similar increases in psychological flexibility (P < .01) and decreases in anxiety (P < .01).
Conclusion
Participation in wellness courses that incorporate a mind–body–spirit approach to health improves multiple domains of psychosocial well-being, which persists even after course participation.
Keywords: whole-systems medicine, well-being, spirituality, mindfulness, mood, anxiety
Author Biographies
Sheila MD
, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of
Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Mind-Body Medical Group, The Chopra Center for Wellbeing,
Carlsbad, California
Deepak MD
, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of
Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Mind-Body Medical Group, The Chopra Center for Wellbeing,
Carlsbad, California
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