Year: 1976
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: The present investigation was undertaken in an attempt to answer four major questions.First, could a brief relaxation procedure achieve significant degrees of relaxation efficiently?Second, what type of technique would be most effective in a brief application?Third, could a cognitive relaxation procedure work just as effec tively as a deep-muscle procedure?Finally, would music paired with relaxation instructions enhance the relaxation process?Eighty subjects were recruited to participate in a 30 minute re laxation training procedure.Subjects were randomly assigned to either progressive relaxation, intermediate relaxation, mental re laxation, or self-relaxation conditions.In addition, half of the subjects in each condition received music paired with the relaxation instructions.All relaxation procedures were presented via audio tape.Relaxation effects were assessed by measuring pre-to post treatment change on self-report inventories and EMG measurements; subjects also completed a post-experimental questionnaire.Results indicated that all relaxation conditions resulted in highly significant change in the relaxed direction on EMG measure ments and a state anxiety inventory.However, there were no dif ferences between any of the conditions in bringing about this change.Formal relaxation procedures were no more effective than simply having subjects relax themselves.The results do indicate that a brief procedure can be highly effective and they also indicate that a cognitive procedure can be just as effective as a deep-muscle pro cedure in a brief application.The results do not indicate which type of procedure would work best in a brief application and the results fail to show that music contributes to the relaxation process.
Source: The Mathematics Enthusiast
Author: Rodney K. Miller
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2465130117