Effects of yoga practice on perceived stress, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for informal caregivers compared to adults who are not caregivers
Faculty Department
Communication Sciences & Disorders
Presentation Type
Powerpoint
Location
Reception Room
Start Date
25-2-2026 11:05 AM
End Date
25-2-2026 11:20 AM
Description (Abstract)
This study aims to determine the effects of yoga practice on perceived stress, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for informal caregivers of children and adults with communication disorders (CD) compared to adults who are not caregivers. Research findings of informal caregivers, defined as those who take care of loved ones and are unpaid, demonstrate well documented adverse effects and negative outcomes due to their roles compared to adults (who are not in a caregiving role). Limited research suggests that caregivers benefit from varying forms of yoga practice. Pilot data will be presented to show self-reported measures of stress, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for informal caregivers compared to adults who are not caregivers, before and after yoga practice. Considerations of feasibility and interprofessional education opportunities will also be discussed. This work is important to expand the evidence of practices that benefit informal caregivers to promote improved quality of life for both caregivers and loved ones they care for. This study extends pilot data previously collected related to improved perceived stress levels of clients post-stroke. Next steps will be discussed.
Keywords
caregiving, stress, yoga, communication disorders, alternative support resources, interprofessional opportunities
Related Pillar(s)
Community, Service, Study
Effects of yoga practice on perceived stress, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for informal caregivers compared to adults who are not caregivers
Reception Room
This study aims to determine the effects of yoga practice on perceived stress, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for informal caregivers of children and adults with communication disorders (CD) compared to adults who are not caregivers. Research findings of informal caregivers, defined as those who take care of loved ones and are unpaid, demonstrate well documented adverse effects and negative outcomes due to their roles compared to adults (who are not in a caregiving role). Limited research suggests that caregivers benefit from varying forms of yoga practice. Pilot data will be presented to show self-reported measures of stress, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for informal caregivers compared to adults who are not caregivers, before and after yoga practice. Considerations of feasibility and interprofessional education opportunities will also be discussed. This work is important to expand the evidence of practices that benefit informal caregivers to promote improved quality of life for both caregivers and loved ones they care for. This study extends pilot data previously collected related to improved perceived stress levels of clients post-stroke. Next steps will be discussed.
Short Biography
Margaret Kamowski-Shakibai serves as an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Molloy University. She earned her PhD from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, MS from William Paterson University of New Jersey, and BA in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Marymount Manhattan College. She is certified through the American Speech and Hearing Association as a speech language pathologist and licensed in NY, NJ, and CA. She has worked with children and adolescents with a range of communication disorders, including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, Down’s Syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Research interests include speech segmentation, processing abilities, and language acquisition of typically-developing and at-risk infants and children, early identification of and intervention for language disorders and reading difficulty, and access to resources for patients and caregivers.