Background: Military occupations require heightened vigilance with resultant sleep disturbances, increased anxiety and reduced vigilance.
Objective: To compare yoga with physical training to reduce insomnia, anxiety and increase vigilance in security personnel.
Methods: One hundred and twelve Border Security Force personnel (BSF group, males; mean age±SD = 30.4±7.4 years) were compared with 112 personnel of a private security firm (SIS group). The BSF group received yoga for nine days and the SIS group received physical training for the same period. Assessments were at baseline and after 9 days, with the digit vigilance test (DVT), Spielberger's STAI-S, and a sleep rating questionnaire.
Results: (1) Between groups: (i) at baseline the BSF group had higher vigilance and more daytime naps compared to the SIS group and (ii) after nine days the SIS group had higher state anxiety compared to the BSF group (ANOVA, Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc comparisons; SPSS Version 24.0) (2) In post-pre intervention comparisons (i) the BSF group increased vigilance and decreased state anxiety after yoga, with improved sleep, while (ii) the SIS group showed increased vigilance after physical training.
Conclusion: Yoga may improve sleep, reduce anxiety while increasing vigilance in occupations requiring vigilance.
Keywords: Alertness; armed forces; insomnia; unease.