The Effects of a Relaxation Intervention on College Students' Social-emotional Competence: A Mixed Methods Approach
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 20
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Personal and professional development
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Objective: To examine the impact of a psychomotor relaxation program on college students' social-emotional competence, personal and professional development. Participants: Twenty female college students participated. Methods: In this non-random one-group repeated measures study with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis), participants were tested on two occasions 4 weeks apart (baseline measure), and then engaged in the psychomotor relaxation program twice weekly for 8 weeks. Participants were tested again after the intervention program (post-test).
Detailed Description
This was a non-random one-group repeated measures study with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis), where participants served as their own controls.
The investigators examined the chronic effects of the intervention program, collecting the instruments online at week 1 (pretest 1) and week 5 (pretest 2), to establish the baseline measures, and at the end of the 8-week period (post-test). In the post-test evaluation, participants also completed the questionnaire with open-ended questions. Investigators also measured salivary cortisol at the beginning and end of the 1st and the 15th sessions to evaluate the acute effects of the intervention program.
Students participated in a psychomotor relaxation program comprised by two 20-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, combining body awareness, muscle tone regulation and breathing exercises
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 30 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •age between 18 and 30 years old
- •not having participated in a similar intervention program within the last 6 months
- •not have a physical condition that can affect participation in the program
- •do not take medication that can influence the studied outcomes.
Exclusion Criteria
- •age under 18 or over 30 years old
- •have participated in a similar intervention program within the last 6 months
- •have a physical condition that can affect participation in the program
- •take medication that can influence the studied outcomes.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Personal and professional development
Time Frame: 1 day (after the intervention program)
A questionnaire was created to the present study comprising 3 open-ended questions concerning the perception of the students about the influence of the intervention program on their personal development, and the benefits that the intervention program may have in the exercise of their future profession as an early childhood educator.
Cortisol levels
Time Frame: 2 days
Cortisol levels (mcg/dL) were quantified in saliva samples collected at the same time and in the same place where the intervention occurred. Before and after the 1st and 15th session, the samples were collected directly from each participant's mouth.
Change in Affective states
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
Affective states were measured through the Portuguese short version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS).
Change in Stress
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
Stress was measured through the Portuguese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10).
Change in Psychological wellbeing
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
Psychological wellbeing was measured through the Portuguese short version of the Scales of Psychological Wellbeing (EBEP).
Change in Interoceptive awareness
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
Interoceptive awareness was measured through the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA).
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Andreia Dias Rodrigues
Principal Investigator
University of Évora