Date of Graduation
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
School of Social Work
Advisor/Mentor
Stauss, Kimberly
Committee Member
Gallagher, John M.
Second Committee Member
Rosa, Ananda
Keywords
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Trauma-informed yoga; University students
Abstract
Traumatic experiences affect female identifying folks at an unequal rate compared to other populations. Trauma-informed yoga (TIY) has become a popular intervention for treatment of symptoms related to trauma. By utilizing tenets such as meditation, intentional movement, and trauma-informed language and positioning, this practice focuses on the mind-body-connection to establish feelings of safety. Although trauma education and interventions are becoming commonly implemented on college campuses, there is a gap in implementation and empirical studies evaluating such campus programs. To explore how TIY could aid this population, a four-week yoga intervention was created. Four participants engaged in a weekly TIY class taught by a certified instructor. A pre- and post- test assessment was administered to measure participants' trauma symptoms. Participants shared their thoughts on the intervention through semi-structured interviews at the end of the study. Although quantitative findings were not significant, data showed promise towards the effectiveness of similar future interventions with a larger sample size. Additionally, qualitative data suggests that participants experienced an increase in mind-body-connection, increased feelings of safety, and increased sense of community. Research limitations, suggestions for future implementation of TIY, and practice implications are also discussed.
Citation
Sandoval, G. V. (2024). Reflection and Connection: Trauma-Informed Yoga and its Aid in Trauma Healing in Female Identifying College Students. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5274
