Effect of Asanas and Pranayama (Yoga) on Happiness and Mental Health of Homemakers: A Causal-comparative Study with Advanced Statistical Analysis

Background: Yoga, rooted in the spiritual discipline of ancient Indian sages, has been widely adopted as a means to promote psychological well-being in modern times. Despite growing interest, rigorous scientific evaluation of the specific effects of Asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breathing techniques) on the psychological health of homemakers remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of regular practice of Asanas and Pranayama on self-reported happiness and mental health among homemakers, and to quantify the magnitude of these effects using advanced statistical methods. Materials and Methods: An ex post facto (causal-comparative) research design was employed. Twenty-four homemakers aged 25–55 years from Shastri Nagar, Ajmer, were recruited and allocated into two groups: yoga practitioners ( n = 12) and nonpractitioners ( n = 12). Psychological outcomes were assessed using the Mental Health Inventory (Pramod Kumar, 1991) and the Happiness Scale (Santosh Verma and Amita Verma, 1989). Data were analyzed using independent samples t -tests, Cohen’s d effect sizes, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mean differences, and coefficient of variation analysis. Results: Yoga practitioners demonstrated significantly higher happiness scores than nonpractitioners ( M = 14.53 ± 4.29 vs. M = 9.83 ± 4.58; t (22) = 2.418, P = 0.024, Cohen’s d = 1.06, 95% CI [0.94, 8.46]). No statistically significant difference was observed in mental health scores ( M = 21.92 ± 4.68 vs. M = 21.08 ± 8.20; t (22) = 0.306, P = 0.763, Cohen’s d = 0.13, 95% CI [−4.81, 6.49]). Conclusion: The practice of Asanas and Pranayama produces a large, statistically significant enhancement in subjective happiness among homemakers but does not independently yield meaningful improvement in overall mental health. These findings suggest that comprehensive psychological well-being may necessitate the integration of additional yogic practices, particularly meditation (Dhyana), alongside physical postures and breathing exercises.