Curriculum Evaluation of a Novel Health and Wellness Program Within New York City Schools

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to compare the academic and psycho-social benefits of a yoga-informed health and wellness program (HWP) to a standard physical education program for middle and high school students within New York City (NYC) schools.

Detailed Description
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Approximately 100 students at a public New York City High School will be randomized at the level of class into either the experimental (yoga-informed health and wellness program) or control arm (physical education class). Students will receive two classes per week of approximately 45 minutes throughout the academic year. Data will be collected in September 2014 and February and May of 2015.

Official Title
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Curriculum Evaluation of a Novel Health and Wellness Program Within New York City Schools

Conditions
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Adolescent Behavior

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Yoga-informed Health and Wellness Program
* Behavioral: Physical Education Class


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: • Male or female students attending NYC schools Exclusion Criteria: Lack of permission to attend physical education class

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years
Maximum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Health and Wellness program<br>Behavioral intervention | Behavioral: Yoga-informed Health and Wellness Program<br>* The HWP will be comprised of physical postures, breathing exercises, a period of sitting in stillness (meditation) and relaxation provided two times per week, 45 minutes per session, for the entire school year (Sept. - June).<br>|
| Active Comparator: Physical Education Class<br>Behavioral intervention | Behavioral: Physical Education Class<br>* Standard physical education<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Academic Performance: Grade Point Averages | GPA was calculated as the numeric average of course scores of all courses taken by the student weighted by credit load of each course using a standard process within NYC public schools. | 1 year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Response to Stress Questionnaire (RSQ) | A 57-item self-report questionnaire that was used as a measure of emotional regulation We examined two of the five constructs (24 of the 57 items) within the RSQ as these were most directly theoretically relevant to expected changes due to yoga practice: voluntary engagement and involuntary engagement. Higher values represent higher levels of negative stress responses. Values for the voluntary engagement subscale represent the mean value across 9 questions on the survey and values for the involuntary subscale represent the mean value across 15 questions on the survey. Values for each item range from 0-3, trherefore the total mean values reported as outcomes range from 0-3. | 1 year | 
| Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale | A 14 item self-report measure assessing subjective well-being (1-5 scale). Higher values represent more positive mental well being. The summary measure is a sum of the 14 questions (not a mean). Summary values therefore range from 14-70. | 1 year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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stress, alternative, complementary, self-regulation