DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE PATANJALI YOGA SUTRA INTERVENTION SCALE FOR MEASURING PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGE IN POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Abstract

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life that can cause sleep problems, mood swings, forgetfulness and decreased quality of life. Some psychometric measures have been created to quantify these concerns; and in the case of psychological changes after a structured intervention based on Patanjali Yoga Sutra (PYS), only a few instruments have been developed. This study explored the process of developing a PYS Intervention scale and carried out a psychometric validation with a group of post-menopausal women. The products developed through 8 limbs (Ashtanga) of yoga which has been laid down by Patanjali and validated by the expert and also from pilot testing. The scale was validated among 70 post-menopausal women in the psychometric properties by used descriptive and distributional statistics in Minitab. The mean score across all items was 0.73 (SD = 0.14; 95% CI 0.69–0.76), with scores of 0.45 to 0.89, and mild negative skewness (-0.12), suggesting good level of discrimination. Incorporating PSQI, MMQ, MSQ, PHQ-9, GAD-7 and MENQOL, the construct and convergent validity were reviewed. Anderson–Darling tests (p < 0.05) were used to test for non-normality, as Mann–Whitney tests were used in the experimental group, significant difference was found on all measures (p < 0.05) that further confirmed the preliminary reliability, validity and sensitivity of the scale for psychological change.