Introduction: Modern society is increasingly characterised by persistent pressures, emotional instability, and the pursuit of material gratification. As a result, individuals often rely on ineffective coping mechanisms, leading to higher stress and psychological imbalance. Yoga, an ancient Indian discipline, has gained recognition for its potential in reducing stress, promoting emotional regulation, and fostering adaptive coping strategies.


Purpose: Recognising the scarcity of regional research, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between personality attributes, perceived stress, and coping styles among yoga and non-yoga practitioners in Assam. It also attempt to find out if significant difference exist between the two groups in the above mentioned variables.


Method : A purposive and convenience sample of 200 young adults (aged 20-35 years) was selected, comprising 100 yoga practitioners and 100 non-yoga practitioners of both genders. Data were collected using standardised instruments: the NEO-FFI Personality Questionnaire (Costa & McCrae, 2001), the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983), and the Brief COPE Scale (Carver, 1997). Statistical analyses, conducted through SPSS-29, involved both descriptive and inferential techniques.


Results: Results indicated significant correlations among various dimensions of personality, perceived stress, and coping styles. Moreover, a statistically significant difference (p < .01) was found between yoga and non-yoga practitioners: yoga practitioners reported lower perceived stress, higher emotional stability, and a greater use of adaptive coping mechanisms such as problem-focused and positive reinterpretation strategies.


Conclusion and Implications: The study highlights yoga's potential as an effective psychosocial intervention to enhance stress resilience and personality development. It also underscores the need for integrating yoga and mindfulness-based programs into educational and community settings in Assam. For mental health professionals, these findings provide valuable insights into designing region-specific interventions to promote holistic well-being among young adults.