Depression in Older AdultsNCT07340840
Recreational Yoga and Emotional-Autonomic Health in Older Adults
A study testing Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga in people with Depression in Older Adults and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), run by Mersin University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Older adults living in nursing homes often experience depression, reduced satisfaction with daily activities, and changes in heart rhythm related to the autonomic nervous system. Non-drug approaches that are safe and easy to apply may help improve both emotional well-being and physical health in this population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression in Older Adults, Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
- What is being tested?
- Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Jun 2023to 1 Sep 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 65 years or older.
- Living in a nursing home.
- Able to communicate and follow instructions.
- Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.
- Available to participate in the 10-week study protocol
Who cannot join
- Participation in therapy-based practices (e.g., yoga, reiki, massage) within the last month.
- Being bedridden.
- Use of psychiatric medications.
- Irregular participation in the 10-week yoga program.
- Failure to complete pre-test or post-test assessments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: THE RHYTHM OF CALM: EFFECTS OF RECREATIONAL YOGA ON EMOTIONAL AND AUTONOMIC HEALTH AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
Older adults living in nursing homes often experience depression, reduced satisfaction with daily activities, and changes in heart rhythm related to the autonomic nervous system. Non-drug approaches that are safe and easy to apply may help improve both emotional well-being and physical health in this population.
This randomized controlled study investigates the effects of a recreational therapy-based yoga program on emotional health and autonomic nervous system function in nursing home residents aged 65 years and older. Participants are randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group or a control group. The yoga group participates in supervised yoga sessions twice a week for 10 weeks, including gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation. The control group does not receive any structured intervention during the study period.
Depression levels, leisure time satisfaction, and heart rate variability are measured before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability is used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system regulation. The study aims to determine whether recreational yoga can be a safe, low-cost, and effective non-pharmacological approach to improve emotional well-being and autonomic health among older adults living in nursing homes.
- Being tested
- Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga
- Keywords
- Yoga, Depression, Leisure, Heart rate variability, Nursing home
- Medical subject headings
- Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Recreational Therapy-Based YogaBehavioural
The yoga intervention consists of supervised group sessions including relaxation exercises, basic and progressive yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditation. Sessions are held twice per week for 10 weeks. Supportive equipment such as chairs, cushions, blocks, and towels is used to ensure participant comfort and minimize injury risk.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational Yoga Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants in this group take part in a recreational therapy-based yoga program conducted twice weekly for 10 weeks. Each session lasts approximately 40-60 minutes and includes gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation. The yoga program is designed to be safe and appropriate for older adults living in a nursing home and is supervised throughout the intervention period. Receives: Behavioral: Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants in the control group do not receive any structured exercise or recreational intervention during the study period and continue their usual daily activities within the nursing home. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Depression Level
Depression levels are assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), a validated self-report questionnaire for older adults. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Autonomic nervous system function is evaluated using heart rate variability parameters measured with a chest-worn heart rate monitor. Time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear HRV parameters are analyzed to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Jan 2026
- Study start10 Jun 2023
- Primary completion15 Jun 2023
- Study completion1 Sep 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depression in Older AdultsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Mersin UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mersin University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hüseyin Gümüş, Mersin University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07340840
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MU Ethics Committee 2023/020
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- THE RHYTHM OF CALM: EFFECTS OF RECREATIONAL YOGA ON EMOTIONAL AND AUTONOMIC HEALTH AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07340840
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MU Ethics Committee 2023/020
- Keywords
- Yoga, Depression, Leisure, Heart rate variability, Nursing home
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Mersin UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Older adults living in nursing homes often experience depression, reduced satisfaction with daily activities, and changes in heart rhythm related to the autonomic nervous system. Non-drug approaches that are safe and easy to apply may help improve both emotional well-being and physical health in this population.
This randomized controlled study investigates the effects of a recreational therapy-based yoga program on emotional health and autonomic nervous system function in nursing home residents aged 65 years and older. Participants are randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group or a control group. The yoga group participates in supervised yoga sessions twice a week for 10 weeks, including gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation. The control group does not receive any structured intervention during the study period.
Depression levels, leisure time satisfaction, and heart rate variability are measured before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability is used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system regulation. The study aims to determine whether recreational yoga can be a safe, low-cost, and effective non-pharmacological approach to improve emotional well-being and autonomic health among older adults living in nursing homes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational Yoga Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Recreational Therapy-Based YogaParticipants in this group take part in a recreational therapy-based yoga program conducted twice weekly for 10 weeks. Each session lasts approximately 40-60 minutes and includes gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation. The yoga program is designed to be safe and appropriate for older adults living in a nursing home and is supervised throughout the intervention period. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants in the control group do not receive any structured exercise or recreational intervention during the study period and continue their usual daily activities within the nursing home. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Aged 65 years or older.
- Living in a nursing home.
- Able to communicate and follow instructions.
- Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.
- Available to participate in the 10-week study protocol
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participation in therapy-based practices (e.g., yoga, reiki, massage) within the last month.
- Being bedridden.
- Use of psychiatric medications.
- Irregular participation in the 10-week yoga program.
- Failure to complete pre-test or post-test assessments
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational Therapy-Based YogaThe yoga intervention consists of supervised group sessions including relaxation exercises, basic and progressive yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditation. Sessions are held twice per week for 10 weeks. Supportive equipment such as chairs, cushions, blocks, and towels is used to ensure participant comfort and minimize injury risk. | Behavioural | Recreational Yoga Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Depression Level
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period
Depression levels are assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), a validated self-report questionnaire for older adults. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period
Autonomic nervous system function is evaluated using heart rate variability parameters measured with a chest-worn heart rate monitor. Time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear HRV parameters are analyzed to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Depression in Older Adults
Not yet recruiting
A Virtual Reality Program for Nursing Home Residents With Physical Disabilities
Older Adults Institutionalized in Residential Homes
Active, not recruiting
Enhancing Wellbeing in Community Dwelling Seniors Through Structured Arts-Based Programmes in the Active Ageing Centres: A Mixed Method Study.
Wellbeing, Social Isolation in Older Adults
Recruiting
Virtual Reality-Enhanced Behavioral Activation for Older Adults With Depression
Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, Older Adults (65 Years and Older)
Recruiting
Geriatric Trauma Care Program for Living Alone Older Adults With Injuries
Limb Injury, Older Adults
Recruiting
Tech-based Respite Care for Caregivers and Homebound Older Adults
Caregiver Stress, Social Isolation in Older Adults
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga in people with Depression in Older Adults and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), run by Mersin University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Depression Level (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jan 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.