OM Chanting Reduces Psychological Distress Level in Office Workers During Covid 19 Pandemic

Jagadeesan Thanalakshmi; Kuppusamy Maheshkumar; Kavia Shree; Mou Pramanik; Karuppasamy Govindasamy

doi:10.15391/prrht.2024-9(1).03

Authors

Jagadeesan Thanalakshmi Department of Physiology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0905-617X
Kuppusamy Maheshkumar Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5377-7847
Kavia Shree Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4406-8887
Mou Pramanik Department of Yoga, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7560-9019
Karuppasamy Govindasamy Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3019-5545

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15391/prrht.2024-9(1).03

Keywords:

Yoga, meditation, chanting, quality of life, covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: psychological stress caused due to the current COVID 19 pandemic lock down may have an adverse impact on the quality of life (QoL) in office shift workers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of OM chanting on the levels of perceived psychological stress, quality of life and sleep among office workers who are confined at home and work during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Material & Methods: an online OM chanting session was conducted for 20 workers who stayed at home and worked during the pandemic lockdown. Prior to and at the end of the training all the participants finished a battery of self-reported online inventories, including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale with 21 items (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF).

Results: after ten days of OM chanting, all the participants stated a significant enhancement in all domains of quality of life and a reduction of psychological distress (P<0.05).

Conclusions: OM chanting is feasible, safe and has a positive effect on psychological quality of life of participants. Still further studies have to be done to warrant the findings with suitable study design.

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