Short Term Effects of Inner Engineering Completion Online Program on Stress and Well-Being Measures

Preeti Upadhyay, Akshaj Joshi, Isha Mishra, Lauren Kelly, Lena Novack, Sepideh Hariri, Kestutis Kveraga, Balachundhar Subramaniam, Preeti Upadhyay, Akshaj Joshi, Isha Mishra, Lauren Kelly, Lena Novack, Sepideh Hariri, Kestutis Kveraga, Balachundhar Subramaniam

Abstract

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic has been a major disruptor of routine life, resulting in increased stress and predisposing people to negative outcomes, such as insomnia, anxiety and hopelessness. Mind-body interventions have improved concentration, emotional balance, and positive emotions, with an enhanced sense of productivity, and self-confidence. We therefore hypothesized that exposure to an online mind-body intervention, "Inner Engineering Completion Online (IECO)," would reduce stress and promote well-being.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled participants registered for the IECO courses, which for the first time were delivered remotely, online. Participants learned a 21-min meditation practice called Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya during the course, which incorporates controlled breathing and mediation techniques. Each enrolled participant was asked to complete self-reported electronic surveys at three key time points: at the time of consent, immediately after completing IECO, and 6 weeks after IECO completion. Effects of IECO practice were assessed using four well-validated neuropsychological scales: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Positive Emotion/Relationship/Engagement Scale (PERMA) Profiler, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). A Signed Rank test was used to analyze the survey data and P-values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Of the 375 participants interested in participation, 164 participants were eligible. Sixty-eight participants completed surveys at all time points and were identified as compliant participants. The baseline median score for PSS in compliant participants (n = 95) was 13.5 (IQR 9, 18); immediate post-IECO median PSS score was 12 (IQR 8, 16) demonstrating a 1.5 unit decrease in PSS scores (p-value = 0.0023). Similarly, comparing PSS scores in compliant participants (n = 68) for immediate Post IECO [11.5 (IQR 8, 15.5)] to PSS scores at six weeks [8 (IQR 4.5, 12.5)] showed a statistically significant 3.5-unit decrease, indicating a reduction in stress upon routine practice of the intervention (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Incorporating the remotely delivered mind-body intervention Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya into daily life via the IECO program over as few as 6 weeks produced a significant stress reduction, improvement in sleep quality and mindfulness.

Clinical trial registration: [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04189146].

Keywords: IECO; Isha; Yoga; meditation; perceived stress.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2022 Upadhyay, Joshi, Mishra, Kelly, Novack, Hariri, Kveraga and Subramaniam.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Consort diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Time trend comparison of PSS scores at all three timepoints. The figure demonstrates the time trend comparison of PSS scores (primary outcome) in complaint participants (n = 68) over three timepoints. Wilcoxon ranked sum test was performed to test for significant change in the scores before and after the Inner Engineering Completion Online program. Median (IQR) and the p-values for each comparison are displayed for all timepoints.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Time trend comparison of Global PSQI scores at all timepoints. The figure demonstrates the time trend comparison of PSQI scores (secondary outcome) in complaint participants (n = 68) over three timepoints. Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was performed to test for significant change in the scores before and after the Inner Engineering Completion Online program. Median (IQR) and the p-values for each comparison are displayed for all timepoints.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Time trend comparison of MAAS scores at all timepoints. The figure demonstrates the time trend comparison of MAAS scores (secondary outcome) in complaint participants (n = 68) over three timepoints. Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was performed to test for significant change in the scores before and after the Inner Engineering Completion Online program. Median (IQR) and the p-values for each comparison are displayed for all timepoints.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
(A) Time trend comparison of PERMA scores (positive measures) at all timepoints. The figure demonstrates the time trend comparison of PERMA scores (positive measures) in complaint participants (n = 68) over three timepoints. Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was performed to test for significant change in the scores before and after the Inner Engineering Completion Online program. Median (IQR) and the p-values for each comparison are displayed for all timepoints. (B) Time trend comparison of PERMA scores (negative measures) at all timepoints. The figure demonstrates the time trend comparison of PERMA scores (negative measures) in complaint participants (n = 68) over three timepoints. Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was performed to test for significant change in the scores before and after the Inner Engineering Completion Online program. Median (IQR) and the p-values for each comparison are displayed for all timepoints.

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