Effects of Yoga on Sleep and Stress in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

NCT ID: NCT07085026

Last Updated: 2025-08-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 112 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-21
• Study Completion Date: 2026-04-01

Brief Summary

Many physiological and psychological changes occur during pregnancy. Sleep and stress are among these changes and can negatively impact the pregnancy process. Yoga can improve sleep quality and stress levels during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of yoga, implemented in the third trimester of pregnancy according to World Health Organization guidelines, on sleep and stress.

Detailed Description

Pregnancy is defined as a period of both physiological and psychological changes in women. Although pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes, the physical, mental, and emotional adaptive changes that occur during this time can significantly impact a woman's health and pregnancy outcomes. Sleep problems are common during pregnancy. Toward the end of pregnancy, women often experience frequent nighttime awakenings, insomnia, and restless sleep. During pregnancy, women undergo bio-physio-psychosocial changes that can lead to increased stress. In order to prevent adverse outcomes, it is important to manage stress in pregnant women and implement interventions aimed at reducing high cortisol levels.

Yoga can be defined as a system of stretching exercises and postures (asanas) combined with deep breathing (pranayama) and meditation, aiming to unify the mind, body, and spirit.

There are studies that have evaluated the effects of yoga practice during pregnancy on sleep and stress. None of these studies have reported any negative effects of yoga on pregnancy. In all studies, yoga was applied with varying frequencies, durations, and techniques. However, no study has been found that evaluates the effects of a yoga program conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) on both sleep and stress. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of yoga, implemented during the third trimester of pregnancy in line with WHO guideline recommendations, on sleep and stress.

Conditions

Sleep; Stress

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention Group

Participants in this group will practice yoga in accordance with the WHO guideline recommendations.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Yoga Intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

There are studies that have evaluated the effects of prenatal yoga on sleep. None of these studies have reported any negative effects of yoga on pregnancy. In all studies, yoga practice was applied with varying frequencies, durations, and techniques. However, no research has been found that evaluates the effects of a yoga program conducted in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline recommendations on both sleep and stress. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of yoga, practiced during the third trimester of pregnancy in line with WHO guideline recommendations, on sleep and stress.

Control Group

Participants in this group will not receive yoga; routine care will be provided.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Yoga Intervention

There are studies that have evaluated the effects of prenatal yoga on sleep. None of these studies have reported any negative effects of yoga on pregnancy. In all studies, yoga practice was applied with varying frequencies, durations, and techniques. However, no research has been found that evaluates the effects of a yoga program conducted in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline recommendations on both sleep and stress. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of yoga, practiced during the third trimester of pregnancy in line with WHO guideline recommendations, on sleep and stress.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Voluntarily agreed to participate in the study,
• Aged between 18 and 35 years,
• In the third trimester of pregnancy (between 29 and 42 weeks of gestation),
• Able to read and write in Turkish,
• No prior experience with yoga practice.

Exclusion Criteria

• High-risk pregnancy,
• In the first or second trimester,
• Multiple pregnancy,
• Any condition that prevents yoga practice (e.g., restrictions on physical activity),
• Previous experience with yoga practice

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Gözde Şengün

Master's Degree Student with Thesis, Istanbul University- Cerrahpasa Midwifery Department

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Tülay TÜLAY Yılmaz, Associate Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Locations

Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Murat Dilmener Hospital

Istanbul, Bakirköy, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

Gözde GÖZDE Şengün, Undergraduate

Role: CONTACT

gozdeesengun@gmail.com

+905384262803

Other Identifiers

IUC-SBF-GŞ-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id