Comparison of Changes in Mental Well-Being Following Mindfulness-Based Yoga, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), and Their Combination in Medical Sciences Students: A Three-Group Pretest–Posttest Study

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Keywords:

Mental well-being, mindfulness-based yoga, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Abstract

This study compared changes in mental well-being following mindfulness-based yoga, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and their combination among students at Torbat-e Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences. This pretest–posttest study included three active intervention groups. Forty-five male students aged 18–24 years were allocated to mindfulness-based yoga, active tDCS, or combined yoga plus active tDCS (n=15 per group). Each group completed 12 sessions over 6 weeks. Mental well-being was measured using the Magyar-Moe and Keyes scale. Paired t tests, analysis of covariance, and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons were performed in SPSS version 27. No no-intervention control or sham-tDCS group was included. Mental well-being scores increased from pretest to posttest in all three active groups (p<0.05). ANCOVA controlling for baseline scores indicated an overall between-group difference (p=0.020; η²=0.180), with a higher adjusted mean in the combined group. In the absence of a control and sham condition, these findings cannot establish the absolute efficacy of the interventions. The combined intervention was associated with a higher adjusted posttest mental well-being score than either active intervention alone. The finding is preliminary and requires confirmation in adequately powered, sham-controlled randomized trials with blinded assessment and follow-up.

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Karamizadeh, M., Entezari Khorasani, Z. ., & Balali, M. . (1405). Comparison of Changes in Mental Well-Being Following Mindfulness-Based Yoga, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), and Their Combination in Medical Sciences Students: A Three-Group Pretest–Posttest Study. Longevity, 1-14. https://quarterlylongevity.com/index.php/longevity/article/view/109