Proof-of-Concept of an Integrated Yoga and Psychological Intervention in Mitigating Distress Among Diverse Women With Gynecologic, Gastrointestinal, and Thoracic Cancers

Sep 21, 2026

Fear of cancer recurrence, cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety are common among women with gynecologic and other understudied cancers, particularly among women of color and those with lower socioeconomic status (SES). Evidence supports mind-body approaches for reducing distress. This study tested a 10-week integrated group program combining mindfulness meditation, psychotherapy skills, and yoga, assessing fear of recurrence, cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety before and after intervention, including moderation by age, minority status, and SES.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Proof-of-Concept of an Integrated Yoga and Psychological Intervention in Mitigating Distress Among Diverse Women With Gynecologic, Gastrointestinal, and Thoracic Cancers Integrative Cancer Therapies Volume 23: 1–19 © The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/15347354241283113](DOI: 10.1177/15347354241283113)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/15347354241283113)[journals.sagepub.com/home/ict](journals.sagepub.com/home/ict) Grace Ann Hanvey, PhD 1*, Elizabeth L. Kacel, PhD 1,2*, Kelsey C. Bacharz, MA 1, Adaixa Padrón Wilborn, PhD 1,3, Sonia Mesa 1, Halle McCracken, MA 1,4, Irene M. Estores, MD 1, Merry-Jennifer Markham, MD 1, Frederic J. Kaye, MD 1, Dennie Jones, Jr. MD 1, Thomas J. George, MD 1, and Deidre B. Pereira, PhD 1 Abstract Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent concerns among women with gynecologic and other understudied cancers, especially among women of color and lower socioeconomic status (SES). Evidence indicates that mind-body interventions are effective in reducing such distress. This study evaluates (1) proofof-concept of an integrated group yoga and psychological intervention in alleviating distress among women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers and (2) differences in efficacy across social and economic factors. Methods: One hundred twenty-five participants were enrolled in a 10-week, single-arm, integrated group intervention utilizing mindfulness meditation, psychotherapy skills, and yoga. They completed measures of FCR, cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety at baseline and following intervention. Mixed-linear models evaluated change in outcomes across the intervention and moderating effects of age, minority status, and SES among 51 participants with available data. Results: Reductions in total (b = −2.06, P = .012) and somatic depressive symptoms (b = −1.79, P = .002) and state anxiety (b = −6.21, P = .005) were observed across the sample. Higher SES was associated with greater reductions in psychosocial distress related to FCR (b = −0.74, P = .050), and in total (b = −1.06, P = .049) and affective depressive symptoms (b = −0.76, P = .006). Women of color experienced greater declines in somatic symptoms compared to non-Hispanic White women (b = −2.71, P = .031), with women of color experiencing lower SES exhibiting greatest reduction in these symptoms (b = 1.73, P = .026). Conclusions: This study demonstrates proof-ofconcept that an integrated psychological and yoga intervention may reduce depressive symptoms and state anxiety among women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers, with racial and/or ethnic minority status and SES moderating some of these effects. Future research should examine intervention feasibility and acceptability among diverse women with cancer and evaluate efficacy using a randomized controlled trial design. Trial registration: [ClinicalTrials.gov](ClinicalTrials.gov) NCT03385577 Keywords psycho-oncology, cancer distress, psychological intervention, yoga intervention, mindfulness, health disparities Submitted April 12, 2024; revised July 31, 2024; accepted August 27, 2024 Introduction The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2024 approximately 116 930 new individuals will be diagnosed with gynecologic cancer in the United States (US) . About 156,430 new cases of gastrointestinal cancers and 118 270 new lung and bronchus cancers are anticipated among US women in the same year.1 Distress is a prevalent quality of life (QoL) concern in cancer and a salient unmet need among women with gynecologic,2-4 gastrointestinal,5,6 and Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial 4.0 License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/lic

FAQs

What intervention was evaluated in the study?

A 10-week integrated group intervention combining mindfulness meditation, psychotherapy skills, and yoga.

Which outcomes were measured before and after the intervention?

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety were measured at baseline and after the intervention.

What did the study find overall?

Across the sample, total depressive symptoms, somatic depressive symptoms, and state anxiety decreased following the intervention.

Sep 21, 2026

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