Is the use of yoga and meditation associated with a healthy lifestyle? Results of a national cross-sectional survey of 28,695 Australian women

Lauche, R; Sibbritt, D; Park, C; Mishra, G; Adams, J; Cramer, H

Is the use of yoga and meditation associated with a healthy lifestyle? Results of a national cross-sectional survey of 28,695 Australian women

Lauche, R

Sibbritt, D

Park, C Mishra, G Adams, J

Cramer, H

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Publisher:: BioMed Central
Publication Type:: Conference Proceeding
Citation:: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017, 17, (Supplement 1), pp. 83-83
Issue Date:: 2017-06-30

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Lauche, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4171-7935
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447
dc.contributor.author	Park, C
dc.contributor.author	Mishra, G
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717
dc.contributor.author	Cramer, H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3640-8046
dc.date	2017-05-03
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-25T09:35:50Z
dc.date.available	2024-03-25T09:35:50Z
dc.date.issued	2017-06-30
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017, 17, (Supplement 1), pp. 83-83
dc.identifier.issn	1472-6882
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/177127
dc.description.abstract	Background Rooted in Indian philosophical, spiritual, and health practice yoga has become a popular avenue to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Traditionally yoga not only consists of physical exercises, but incorporates advice for an ethical and healthy lifestyle. This study aimed to examine the relationship between yoga/meditation practice and health behavior in three age cohorts of Australian women. Methods Women aged 19–25 years, 31–36 years, and 62–67 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Womens Health (ALSWH) were surveyed regarding smoking, alcohol or drug use, physical activity and dietary behavior; and whether they practiced yoga/meditation on a regular basis. Associations of those health behaviors with yoga/meditation practice were analyzed using multiple logistic regression modelling. Results 11344, 8200, and 9151 women aged 19–25 years, 31–36 years, and 62–67 years, respectively, were included in the analysis of which 29.0%, 21.7%, and 20.7%, respectively, practiced yoga/meditation. Women practicing yoga/meditation were less likely to smoke regularly (OR = 0.41–0.47), and more likely to be physically active (OR = 1.50–2.79) and to follow a vegetarian (OR = 1.72–3.22) or vegan (OR = 2.26–3.68) diet. Women practicing yoga/meditation were also more likely to use marijuana (OR = 1.28–1.89) and illicit drugs (OR = 1.23–1.98). Conclusions Yoga/meditation practice was associated with a higher likelihood of non-smoking, regular physical activity, and vegetarian/vegan diet. While health professionals need to keep the potential vulnerability of yoga/meditation practitioners to drug use in mind, the positive associations of yoga/meditation with a variety of positive health behaviors warrant its consideration in preventive medicine and healthcare.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	BioMed Central
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
dc.relation.ispartof	World Congress Integrative Medicine & Health
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.classification	Complementary & Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.classification	4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
dc.title	Is the use of yoga and meditation associated with a healthy lifestyle? Results of a national cross-sectional survey of 28,695 Australian women
dc.type	Conference Proceeding
utslib.citation.volume	17
utslib.location.activity	Berlin, Germany
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ARCCIM - Australian Research Centre in Complementary & Integrative Medicine
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2024-03-25T09:35:49Z
pubs.finish-date	2017-05-05
pubs.issue	Supplement 1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.start-date	2017-05-03
pubs.volume	17
utslib.citation.issue	Supplement 1

Abstract:

Background Rooted in Indian philosophical, spiritual, and health practice yoga has become a popular avenue to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Traditionally yoga not only consists of physical exercises, but incorporates advice for an ethical and healthy lifestyle. This study aimed to examine the relationship between yoga/meditation practice and health behavior in three age cohorts of Australian women. Methods Women aged 19–25 years, 31–36 years, and 62–67 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Womens Health (ALSWH) were surveyed regarding smoking, alcohol or drug use, physical activity and dietary behavior; and whether they practiced yoga/meditation on a regular basis. Associations of those health behaviors with yoga/meditation practice were analyzed using multiple logistic regression modelling. Results 11344, 8200, and 9151 women aged 19–25 years, 31–36 years, and 62–67 years, respectively, were included in the analysis of which 29.0%, 21.7%, and 20.7%, respectively, practiced yoga/meditation. Women practicing yoga/meditation were less likely to smoke regularly (OR = 0.41–0.47), and more likely to be physically active (OR = 1.50–2.79) and to follow a vegetarian (OR = 1.72–3.22) or vegan (OR = 2.26–3.68) diet. Women practicing yoga/meditation were also more likely to use marijuana (OR = 1.28–1.89) and illicit drugs (OR = 1.23–1.98). Conclusions Yoga/meditation practice was associated with a higher likelihood of non-smoking, regular physical activity, and vegetarian/vegan diet. While health professionals need to keep the potential vulnerability of yoga/meditation practitioners to drug use in mind, the positive associations of yoga/meditation with a variety of positive health behaviors warrant its consideration in preventive medicine and healthcare.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/177127