International Research Journal of Education and Technology

The mental health of orphaned adolescents remains an underexplored yet critical area of concern, particularly in developing nations like India. This study investigates the impact of Bhramari Pranayama, a traditional yogic breathing technique, on depression levels and behavioral patterns among orphan adolescent girls aged 11 to 18 years in the Almora district. Using a quasi- experimental design, 90 participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n=50) that underwent a 40-day daily practice of Bhramari Pranayama, and a control group (n=40) with no intervention.

Assessment tools included the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Student Behavior Survey (SBS), with pre- and post-intervention data analyzed using paired samples, t-tests and descriptive statistics. The results revealed a statistically significant reduction in depression scores (mean difference = 21.75, p < 0.001) and a notable improvement in behavior (mean difference =

-19.26, p < 0.001) in the experimental group. In contrast, the control group exhibited no significant change in either variable (p > 0.05), validating the effectiveness of the intervention.

The study conclusively rejects the null hypotheses H01 and H03, supporting the effectiveness of Bhramari Pranayama in enhancing the psychological well-being of orphaned girls. The findings underscore the transformative potential of integrating Bhramari Pranayama into institutional care settings, offering a culturally appropriate, non-pharmacological, and cost-effective method to improve emotional resilience, self-regulation, and mental clarity among vulnerable adolescents. This research adds meaningful evidence to the growing field of yoga-based mental health interventions and advocates for their wider implementation in educational and rehabilitative frameworks.