A within-subject comparison of different relaxation therapies in eliciting physiological and psychological changes in young women

PeerJ

article

Sarah Dib¹  Jonathan C.K. Wells¹  Mary Fewtrell¹ 

[1] UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London

关键词: Stress;    Anxiety;    Relaxation therapy;    Women’s health;    Pregnancy;    Lactation;    Meditation;    Light therapy;    Music therapy;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.9217

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundStress reactivity can be different in women compared to men, which might consequently influence disease risk.Stress in women may also generate adverse physiological effects on their offspring during pregnancy or lactation. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of different relaxation interventions on physiological outcomes and perceived relaxation in healthy young women, to assist in identifying the most appropriate intervention(s) for use in a subsequent trial for mothers who deliver prematurely.MethodsA within-subject study was conducted in 17 women of reproductive age comparing five different relaxation interventions (guided-imagery meditation audio (GIM), music listening (ML), relaxation lighting (RL), GIM+RL, ML+RL), with control (silence/sitting), assigned in random order over a 3–6 week period. Subjective feelings of relaxation (10-point scale), heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and fingertip temperature (FT) were measured before and after each techniqueResultsAll interventions significantly increased perceived relaxation and FT, while music also significantly reduced SBP (p < 0.05). Compared to control, HR significantly decreased following GIM (mean difference = 3.2 bpm, p < 0.05), and FT increased (mean difference = 2.2 °C, p < 0.05) and SBP decreased (mean difference = 3.3 mmHg, p < 0.01) following ML. GIM + RL followed by GIM were the most preferred interventions.ConclusionsBased on preference, simplicity, and the physiological and psychological effects, GIM and ML were identified as the most effective tools for reducing stress and improving relaxation. These techniques warrant further research in larger samples and other populations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY