Amy Lei
Research Mentor(s): Kathleen Ignatoski
Mentor Department: University of Michigan
Authors: Amy Lei, Sandy Zalmout, Kathleen Ignatoski
Session: Session 4 (1:00pm – 1:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 62
Abstract
Previous research has shown that yoga and mindfulness are effective treatment options for improving the mental health and overall well-being of individuals within the general population (Kusmierska et al. 2024). This review aims to evaluate the impact of yoga and mindfulness in treating mental health and well-being in the neurodivergent community. A literature review on four articles across databases such as EBSCO, ProQuest, and PubMed was conducted. We found that overall yoga and mindfulness generally improve symptoms of neurodivergence such as impaired self-regulation and social functioning which then improve mental health. Overall, implementing various treatment options incorporating yoga and/or mindfulness and mental health has positive outcomes for neurodivergent individuals. These results demonstrate that further investigation should be conducted in alternative treatments for neurodiversity, opening pathways to new possibilities. Ultimately, we hope this will lead to an increased understanding of neurodiversity in a broader social context which will pave the way for advocacy for further education and awareness.
