The Research Dialogue

Abstract

Secondary school students experience substantial academic and developmental pressures arising from examinations, heavy workloads, parental expectations, peer comparison, career uncertainty and rapid physical and emotional changes. When these demands exceed students’ perceived coping resources, academic stress may impair concentration, motivation, sleep, emotional stability and school participation. Life skills such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, empathy and coping with stress can protect adolescents from some of these adverse effects.

The present article examines the impact of yoga and meditation on the academic stress and life skills of secondary school students. It is a qualitative, descriptive and literature-based study drawing on official documents of the World Health Organization, the National Council of Educational Research and Training and the Central Board of Secondary Education, together with selected school-based trials and systematic reviews. Research findings indicate that appropriately designed yoga and meditation programmes may help students recognise stress reactions, regulate emotions, improve attention, develop adaptive coping and respond more calmly to academic difficulties. Some studies also report improvements in working memory, self-esteem, resilience and prosocial behaviour. However, the evidence is not uniformly positive. A large cluster-randomised trial found that universal school-based mindfulness training was not more effective than usual school provision for improving adolescent mental health and well-being.

The article concludes that yoga and meditation should not be presented as guaranteed methods for securing high academic marks or as substitutes for counselling, physical exercise or mental-health treatment. Their educational value depends on regular practice, student engagement, trained instructors, cultural sensitivity, safe implementation and integration with a wider life-skills and school-well-being programme.

Keywords: Yoga, meditation, academic stress, life skills, secondary school students, mindfulness, coping skills, emotional regulation.

Cite this Article: 

Saharan, Indu. (2026). Impact of Yoga and Meditation on Academic Stress and Life Skills of Secondary School Students. The Research Dialogue, Open Access Peer-reviewed & Refereed Journal, Pp.746–757, Volume-04, Issue-04, January-2026, https://theresearchdialogue.com/