Group Yoga and Exercise Facilitated a Sense of Belonging for Participants with Acquired Brain Injury: A Qualitative Study

Research Objectives: Explore the perceived impact of group exercise programs on social cognition for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). Social cognition includes being able to interpret social cues, understanding others, and feeling part of a community.

Design: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study at the end of a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). The RCT compared whether group yoga or group exercise impacted balance.

Setting: Interviews and focus groups were conducted in-person after the participants’ last yoga or exercise session, which occurred at a university-affiliated health center.

Participants: The RCT had 29 participants. Twenty-two individuals, 11 from group yoga and 11 from group exercise, chose to participate in the interviews.

Interventions: In-person group yoga and group exercise occurred twice a week for one hour for eight weeks.

Main Outcome Measures: We used a semi-structured interview guide when conducting focus groups or 1:1 interviews. The interview guide was informed by the International Classification of Functioning and Disability as well as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. The purpose of the interviews was to explore how participants perceived improvements in different areas of body functioning (including social cognition) and activities and participation.
Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then de-identified. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. We coded each transcript using an inductive, open coding process to identify categories. Then, we generated key themes related to social cognition.

Results: We generated two themes: 1) Fostering a Non-Judgmental and Supportive Environment Facilitates Community Connection & Social Interaction, and 2) Empowerment Through Group Activities Supported Life Skills and Personal Development. People found a sense of belonging, as one participant stated, “It’s nice to feel super comfortable and understand everyone is in the same boat with me.”

Conclusions: The findings suggest that group yoga and exercise may be beneficial in supporting the social cognition in individuals with ABI.

Author(s) Disclosures: The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper.