Comparative effectiveness of yoga-mind-based and rational-emotive-based therapies in enhancing self-acceptance and interpersonal relationship among prisoners

A comparative analysis of the yoga-mind-based and the rational-emotive-based therapies in enhancing the self acceptance (SA) and interpersonal relationship (IR) among prisoners is undertaken in this research.The subjects were student-inmates in the Medium Security Prison of the National Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa. The yoga mind-based therapy consisted of a combination of two techniques: 1) yoga consisting of yogic postures, pranaic breathing, concentration, and performance of asanas and 2) the other technique of the Real I and false i distinguished between noble qualities such as love, compassion, and the lower tendencies such as rejection and anger among humans. The rational-emotive-based therapy consisting of Ellis\u27 rational-emotive-therapy principles (RET) dispelled the irrational thoughts of rejection and interpersonal conflicts. The group support session which was added to both therapies, promoted self-acceptance, and good relationship with others.This research made use of the pretest-posttest control group design. The POI and IRRS served as the instruments. There were 55 participants whose ages ranged from 20 to 40 years. All volunteered to participate. They were randomly assigned--19 to the experiment groups and 17 to the control group. All remained in the program until the delayed posttest. The treatment lasted for fifteen consecutive days. This was added with a daily two-hour session for each experimental group. The results of the statistical tests showed a significant improvement in both the level of self-acceptance and interpersonal relationship of the experimental groups for either the yoga-mind-based or the rational emotive-based groups. No significant improvement was found in both self-acceptance and interpersonal relationship of the control group.There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of the yoga-mind based and the rational-emotive based therapies in relation to 1) self-acceptance and 2) interpersonal relationships.The yoga-mind-based and rational-emotive-based therapies were effective tools in enhancing the self-acceptance and the interpersonal relationships of prison inmates