A person who is trying to protect their body and mind is in search of a way that will be good for them. One of the ways which is used in this quest is to embrace the power of yoga teachings. Yoga is a type of exercise that helps individuals improve their psychological health by strengthening their bodies and minds. Unfortunatelly, there is a lack in the literature to examine the relationships between yoga, psychological well-being, and helpfulness. Aim of this research, examining the relationship between yoga and psychological well-being (PWB), and the mediator role of helpfulness in this relationship.
Individuals practice yoga to improve their physical and psychological health. It is a type of sport exercise that is widely performed globally, and numerous studies in the literature have demonstrated its benefits. Specifically, it has been shown that yoga practice involves mindfulness, physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, which have been shown to improve mood and reduce stress by decreasing the level of cortisol hormone in the body and improves psychological well-being (Frank et al., 2017; Sullivan et al., 2019; West et al., 2004). As a result, individuals who practice yoga may experience a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms (Ofei Dodoo et al., 2020; Woodyard,2011) and an increase in their psychological well-being (De Manincor et al., 2016; Kinser, Goehler & Taylor, 2012). It helps to stabilize their mood against the stress factors encountered in daily life (Iyengar, 2016).
Individuals who maintain their psychological functionality tend to lead happier and more satisfying lives (Ryff ve Singer, 2008). Self-development and coping with stress improve an individual's psychological well-being (Diener et al., 1999). Therefore, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety can help individuals take steps towards their goals (Prathikanti et al., 2017). By experiencing more positive emotions, individuals with reduced symptoms tend to lead happier and more peaceful lives. Moreover, achieving goals while maintaining psychological health can effect to an increase in the level of psychological well-being (De Manincor et al., 2016; Kinser, Goehler & Taylor, 2012). In this context, yoga has an important role in enhancing an individual's psychological well-being (Gaiswinkler & Unterrainer, 2016; Hosseinzadeh et al., 2020). Yoga would help to people to increase their levels of psychological well-being and quality of their life. Individuals who can focus better on their body and mind by yoga have a greater understanding of their lives, which helps them lead a healthier life (Gaiswinkler & Unterrainer, 2016; Gülderen, 2020; Hosseinzadeh et al., 2020). Because of all this aims, it was designed to show the relationship between yoga and psychological well-being in Turkish culture.
Yoga practice is known to enhance an individual's empathy (Aron, Norman, Aron, & Heyman, 2000; Canıöz & Coşkun, 2020). It is expected that individuals who practice yoga are more likely to demonstrate helping behavior, which is the willingness to meet the needs of others voluntarily (Ofei Dodoo et al., 2020). By being more sensitive, have high helping behavior (Ünal et al., 2022) and aware of the needs of the people around them, individuals who practice yoga tend to exhibit more helping behavior. Yoga may help to cultivate a sense of connections with others, and yoga practitioners tend to show greater willingness for prosocial behavior (Satyapriya et al., 2009). By practicing yoga, individuals learn to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, which makes them more aware of themselves and their environment (Grensman et al., 2018; Khanna & Greeson, 2013; Salmon et al., 2009). As a result, yoga can help to increase social connections, feel compassion to others (Condon et al., 2013) and, benevolence, and yoga is associated with increased helpfulness (Brown & Ryan, 2003; Fishbein et al., 2016; Frampton et al., 2021; Sivashankar et al., 2022).Als people who evaluate their lives positively and have more positive emotions than negative emotions and have high level of life satisfaction, they would be helpfulness and want to share their own sources with more than others (Bektaş & Arslan, 2020; Canıöz & Coşkun, 2018; Diener, 1984; Diener & Seligman, 2002; Kaya & Canıöz, 2021; Ross et al., 2014; Sharma, Gupta &Bijlani, 2008). Because of this aim, it was examined to show the effect of helpfulness in the relationship between yoga and psychological well-being in Turkish culture.
In Turkish culture, there is a lack of research on the effect of yoga on these variables. Thus, this is important to show the effect of yoga on psychological well-being, and the mediator role of helpfulness in this relation. This valuable study will contribute to the literature. This study was designed to investigate the effect of yoga on psychological well-being and the mediator role of helpfulness in this effect. According to the literature, the following hypothesis were examined in this research (Gaiswinkler & Unterrainer, 2016; Hosseinzadeh et al., 2020; Ofei Dodoo et al., 2020; Ross et al., 2014; Sharma, Gupta & Bijlani, 2008; Woodyard, 2011).
H1
Yoga would be positively associated with PWB.
H2
Yoga would be positively related with helpfulness.
H3
Helpfulness would mediate the relation between yoga and PWB.