Evaluating the Impact of a Yoga-Based Intervention on Software Engineers' Well-Being

2025-04-23

AI Summary

This study addresses burnout, anxiety, and depression among software engineers operating under high-pressure, high-cognitive-load conditions. We conducted an eight-week, once-weekly workplace yoga intervention using a mixed-methods design: pre-post quantitative assessment via six validated scales (e.g., PSS, PHQ-9, GAD-7), longitudinal weekly self-reports, and focus group interviews—triangulated to enhance construct validity. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical investigation of low-frequency yoga intervention in a software engineering workplace. Quantitative outcomes did not reach statistical significance; however, qualitative data consistently indicated improved subjective well-being and high participant adherence. Findings suggest contextual factors—including work pace and organizational support—may attenuate observable intervention effects, underscoring the necessity of context-sensitive intervention design. The study contributes methodological insights for digital occupational health interventions and identifies actionable pathways for practice refinement.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Software Engineering
• Intelligent Robots: Cognitive Robotics
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Affective Computing

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Robustness and generalizability of Web mining methods
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

Software engineering tasks are high-stress and cognitively demanding. Additionally, there is a latent risk of software engineers presenting burnout, depression and anxiety. Established interventions in other fields centred around attention awareness have shown positive results in mental well-being. We aim to test how effective a yoga intervention is in improving general well-being in the workplace. For that, we designed, implemented and evaluated an eight-week yoga programme in a software development company. We used a mixed-methods data collection, using a survey of six psychometric scales, pre and post-intervention, and a weekly well-being scale during the programme. For method triangulation, we conducted a focus group with the organisers to obtain qualitative data. The quantitative results did not show any statistically significant improvement after the intervention. Meanwhile, the qualitative results illustrated that participants felt better and liked the intervention. We conclude that yoga has a positive impact, which, however, can easily get overlaid by contextual factors, especially with only a once-per-week intervention.

Problem

• Assessing yoga's effect on engineers' mental well-being
• Measuring stress reduction in high-cognitive-demand jobs
• Evaluating workplace yoga intervention effectiveness

Innovation

• Eight-week yoga program for workplace well-being
• Mixed-methods data collection with psychometric scales
• Focus group for qualitative feedback triangulation