Objectives

Previous research has found that yoga can enhance quality of life and ease menopausal symptoms of breast cancer survivors. The study examined whether self-esteem mediated the effects of yoga on quality of life, fatigue and menopausal symptoms, utilizing validated outcome measures.

Study design

This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of yoga with those of usual care in 40 breast cancer survivors who suffered from menopausal symptoms. All participants completed all 3 assessments (week 0, week 12, and week 24) and provided full data.

Main outcome measures

Outcomes were measured using self-rating instruments. Mediation analyses were performed using SPSS.

Results

Self-esteem mediated the effect of yoga on total menopausal symptoms (B = −2.11, 95% BCI [-5.40–-.37]), psychological menopausal symptoms (B = −.94, 95% BCI [-2.30–-.01]), and urogenital menopausal symptoms (B = −.66, 95% BCI [-1.65–-.15]), quality of life (B = 8.04, 95% BCI [3.15–17.03]), social well-being (B = 1.80, 95% BCI [.54–4.21]), emotional well-being (B = 1.62, 95% BCI [.70–3.34]), functional well-being (B = 1.84, 95% BCI [.59–4.13]), and fatigue (B = 4.34, 95% BCI [1.28–9.55]). Self-esteem had no effect on somatovegetative menopausal symptoms (B = −.50, 95% BCI n.s.) or on physical well-being (B = .79, 95% BCI n.s.).

Conclusions

Findings support the assumption that self-esteem plays a vital role in the beneficial effect of yoga and that yoga can have long-term benefits for women diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing menopausal transition