Experiences of Yoga Interventions for Young People in CAMHS (V1)

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Qualitative Exploration of Experiences of Yoga Interventions for Young People Within a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

  • IRAS ID

    353503

  • Contact name

    Amy Lowe

  • Contact email

    acl1g16@soton.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Southampton

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 10 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    There is evidence that yoga can improve mental health (Bayley-Veloso & Salmon, 2016; Bhargav et al., 2020; Cramer et al., 2017; Cramer et al., 2018; Domingues, 2018; Park & Slattery, 2021; Malviya et al., 2023). However, current research is limited by a majority focus on adult participants. More specifically, there is a lack of qualitative research exploring the views of children and adolescents who have participated in yoga interventions, to understand their perspectives on if, and how, yoga benefits their mental health. To our knowledge, this has not been explored in the context of yoga interventions delivered within clinical settings in the United Kingdom.

    The aim of the study is to explore the experiences of young people who have participated in yoga interventions within a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). The following research questions have been devised.

    1. From the views of young people and parents and/or carers, what are the experiences of young people who have engaged in yoga as an intervention for mental health difficulties?
    2. From the views of young people and parents and/or carers, how do young people experience yoga as helpful and/or unhelpful as an intervention for mental health difficulties?

    The study will be a qualitative design and will take an approach to understand the subjective experience of and meanings created by participants (an interpretivist epistemology). Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews (approximately one hour). Recruitment will take place in a CAMHS team whereby yoga is offered as an intervention. Participants will be young people aged 11 or above who have completed at least one yoga intervention session, or parents/carers of a young person aged 11 years old or above, where the young person has completed at least one yoga intervention session at CAMHS.

  • REC name

    London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/LO/0869

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Dec 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion