The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a yoga program provided to workers in small businesses to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. A nonequivalent control group pre/post-test design was used. The experimental group (n = 31) was assigned a yoga program consisting of yoga postures designed for meditation, strengthening, stretching, and balancing, given twice weekly for 12 weeks. The control group (n = 38) was given no other intervention. The mean age was 48.1 years old in the experimental group and 47.7 years old in the control group. Three trained investigators collected the questionnaires and one month after completing the 12-week yoga program, the same questionnaires that were administered at baseline were again administered. Psychosocial variables (depressive symptoms and job stress), health promotion behaviors, and body measurements (weight and waist circumference) were measured for the program evaluation. The yoga program was effective in improving waist circumference (from 81.8 to 79.2, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (from 81.0 to 79.1, p = 0.004) as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group’s job stress score decreased from 1.38 to 1.02, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.240). A yoga program could be a useful intervention for workers with CVD risk factors, but it was not effective in psychological factors such as job stress and depression. A long-term intervention approach is important to confirm the psychosocial effect. Therefore, future research is needed to investigate the long-term outcomes of such interventions.

中文翻译：

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瑜伽计划对减少小型工作场所工人心血管疾病危险因素的影响：一项试点测试

本研究的目的是评估为小企业工人提供的瑜伽计划对减少心血管疾病 (CVD) 风险因素的影响。使用了非等效的对照组前/后测试设计。实验组（n = 31）被分配了一个瑜伽计划，包括为冥想、加强、伸展和平衡而设计的瑜伽姿势，每周两次，持续 12 周。对照组（n = 38）未进行其他干预。实验组平均年龄48.1岁，对照组平均年龄47.7岁。三名训练有素的调查员收集了问卷，并在完成 12 周瑜伽计划一个月后，再次执行与基线时相同的问卷。社会心理变量（抑郁症状和工作压力）、健康促进行为、和身体测量（体重和腰围）被测量用于程序评估。与对照组相比，瑜伽计划在改善腰围（从 81.8 到 79.2，p < 0.001）和舒张压（从 81.0 到 79.1，p = 0.004）方面是有效的。此外，实验组的工作压力得分从 1.38 下降到 1.02，但没有统计学意义（p = 0.240）。对于有心血管疾病危险因素的工人来说，瑜伽计划可能是一种有用的干预措施，但它对工作压力和抑郁等心理因素无效。长期干预方法对于确认社会心理影响很重要。因此，未来的研究需要调查此类干预措施的长期结果。