scholarly journals Effects of Guided Imagery, Zikar Azkar, and Priming Technique on Stress and Relaxation Level Among University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-240
Author(s):  
Summaiya Arif ◽  
Sabeen Rahim ◽  
Saima Perwez

This study was conducted to find out the effectiveness of the three relaxation techniques which are Guided Imagery, Zikar Azkar, and Priming Technique on coping with stress and on the relaxation state of an individual. The total sample included 51 university students in which each group had 17 female students. Smith Relaxation States Inventory 3 and Perceived Stress Scale were used to measure relaxation states and perceived stress levels of the participants. The Smith Relaxation States Inventory 3 has two subscales. The State Version (SRSI3) measures the current relaxation state of a person and the Disposition Scale (SRSI3d) evaluates how often individuals experience worries, stress, and negative emotions. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups. The questionnaires were administered before and after four weeks to the participants. The findings of the study showed that all the three relaxation techniques were effective in reducing stress, however, the results show that Zikar Azkar was more effective than Guided Imagery and Priming Technique. It was also found that Zikar Azkar was also effective in improving the relaxation state of individuals besides being more effective than Guided Imagery, and Priming Technique in reducing negative emotions and stress.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Hüseyin Çevik

The problems university students face during their education life often lead to undesirable situations as stress resources. Thus, various methods, techniques and strategies are employed in order to avoid negative effects of stress in their lives. Leisure is one of the effective methods in coping with stress, and leisure coping strategies are “leisure companionship”, “leisure palliative coping” and “leisure mood enhancement”. However, there are few studies in the literature focusing on the relationship between these strategies and perceived stress. Exploring this relationship is believed to provide valuable insights for university administrations so that they might offer effective recreation programs for their students. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between perceived stress and leisure coping strategies. In addition, it examines whether there is a difference in perceived stress and strategies according to time spent for leisure activities and type of leisure participation. The participants of the study are 338 students, who were determined by using convenience sampling method. The data were collected through a survey that consists of three parts. The first part includes Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the second one Leisure Coping Strategies Scale (LCSS) and the third one demographic questions about the participants. The data were analyzed by using Pearson Moment-Product correlation, t-test and ANOVA analyses. According to the findings, there is a negative significant relationship between perceived stress level, leisure coping strategies and its subdimensions. The study also found that perceived stress level of the participants who prefer passive participation in leisure activities is significantly different from that of those who prefer active participation. Similarly, the participants who prefer passive participation in leisure activities is significantly different from those who prefer active participation in terms of leisure coping strategies. In conclusion, the study contributes to the literature with these valuable findings and provides important insights for university campus recreation programs and services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose C. Jaenes ◽  
Dominika Wilczyńska ◽  
David Alarcón ◽  
Rafael Peñaloza ◽  
Arturo Casado ◽  
...  

Background: The Marathon runners must have the proper technical preparation to reach excellence and to achieve adequate psychological preparation for the race. Against this background, the current study aims to describe the implementation results of a cognitive-behavioral intervention based on psychological skills training for marathon runners.Methods: Fourteen amateur male marathoners with an average age of 30 (SD = 5.75) were trained with various emotional and cognitive control techniques to enhance their performance in competition. Various psychological variables, related to the subjects level of perceived stress, and to qualitative characteristics of their thoughts were measured before and after the target marathon race. Results were analyzed through non-parametric tests for two related samples. The Cohen's d effect size for single-group pretest-posttest repeated measures were also performed.Results: Statistical analysis reveals that, controlling for age and running experience, the intervention decreased significantly the level of perceived stress and the occurrence of negative thoughts before the race, during, and after the race.Conclusion: Training in cognitive control and relaxation techniques, as part of the psychological skills training could determine the quality of performance of marathon runners.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa. S ◽  
Dr. N. L. Srimathi

In a day to day life we come across many hassles in our life and these hassles sometimes becomes stressors. Adolescent is a period of transitional stage with physical and psychological development wherein they face many such challenges and stressors. It depends on the individual ability, cognition and frame of life which help him to cope with stressors. Thus it is psychological resilience that is an individual’s ability to adapt to stress and hardship which determines his ability to cope with stress. The aim of the present study was to examine the difference in perceived stress among Pre University and Under Graduate students, as well studying the relationship between perceived stress and resilience among Pre University and Under Graduate students. In order to examine the same within group and between group designs was adopted and null hypothesis was formulated. Sample size of 50 Pre university students and 50 Under Graduate students were administered with Resilience scale and Perceived Stress Scale. The data was statistically analyzed and results indicated Pre University students had high level of Perceive stress and low level of resilience and Under Graduate students had moderate level of Perceive stress and high level of resilience. ‘t’ score of (t= 4.63, p<0.01) indicated significant difference between Pre University students and Under Graduate students in perceived stress, and r score of (r = -0.70, p<0.05) indicated negative relationship between Perceive stress and resilience. These findings indicated that Perceived stress is high among Pre University students compared to Under Graduate students; as well there existed a high negative relationship between Perceive stress and resilience. According to literature review it is found that resilience is related to positive emotions and these positive emotions during stressful experience have adaptive benefits in coping with stress (Tugad et al, 2004). Empirical evidence on resilient individual who have good coping strategies concretely elicit positive emotions, like humor, optimism, goal oriented behavior (Bergeman et al 2006) Thus this result paves the way for academicians, policy makers and educational intuitions to provide resilience training program as a part of their curricular, so that young adults and adolescents will have better stress management abilities.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Selim

Thistudy investigated differences in anxiety level of patients who received instruction prior to magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compared to a control group that did not. Thus, 60 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the study group received instructions designed by the researcher plus the routine hospital instructions, while the control group received the routine hospital instructions only. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered to both groups before and after MRI examination. Patients who received the designed instructions reported significantly lower levels of anxiety than the controls. The findings also indicated that 60% of the total sample used prayer to reduce anxiety. The study emphasizes the need for detailed information about the procedure and training in relaxation techniques.


Author(s):  
Julia Halamova ◽  
Jana Koroniova ◽  
Martina Baránková

As self-criticism is considered to be the major underlying factor of all sorts of psychopathology, it is meaningful to explore the differences between how people deal with their self-criticism based on their level of self-criticism. The aim of this study was to categorise descriptions and investigate differences between 5 high and 5 low self-critical participants in their self-critical, self-protective and self-compassionate imageries. The total sample consisted of 10 university students, who were selected from a larger sample of 88 participants based on their extreme score from The Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale. For analysis, we exploited Consensual Qualitative Research with two assessors and one auditor. The compassionate imagery was used to evoke the inner critic, protector and compassionate voice. The results showed differences in the imageries based on the level of self-criticism. Both high and low self-critics displayed difficulties in overcoming their self-criticism. Contrary to high self-critics, low self-critics showed more constructive and positive strategies for dealing with their self-criticism. Our study presented several different patterns between high and low self-critical participants in self-critical, self-compassionate, and self-protective imagery which could be used for diagnostic purposes in the future.


Author(s):  
Yolanda Marcén-Román ◽  
Angel Gasch-Gallen ◽  
Irene Isabel Vela Martín de la Mota ◽  
Estela Calatayud ◽  
Isabel Gómez-Soria ◽  
...  

Today’s COVID-19 situation can affect university Health Sciences students’ psychological health. This study aimed to analyze the stress caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Health Sciences students from the University of Zaragoza (Spain) almost 1 year after the pandemic began. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 252 university students who completed a self-administered online questionnaire. It evaluated the impact of perceived stress with a modified scale (PSS-10-C), and assessed anxiety and depression on the Goldberg scale. Students presented stress (13.1%), anxiety (71.4%) and depression (81%). Females (81.7%) and the third-year Occupational Therapy students (p = 0.010) reported perceived stress. Nursing students perceived less stress (OR: 0.148; 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.842). University students developed stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 almost 1 year after the pandemic began. Psychological support measures for these groups should be prioritized.


2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy C. Maruyama ◽  
Clarisa V. Atencio

ABSTRACTObjective:To assess the feasibility of an 8-week bereavement support group in a general hospital setting.Methods:We assessed grief and mood before and after an 8-week bereavement support group and compared dropouts to completers. Forty-seven participants filled out mood and grief questionnaires. Scores were compared with norms, then baseline and follow-up scores were analyzed by paired t tests. Fifteen dropouts' scores were compared with completers' baseline scores.Results:Participants' grief improved, as did depression in women but not men. Women dropouts scored significantly higher on Anger, Tension/Anxiety.Significance of results:Findings suggest men and women respond differently to bereavement groups. Bereaved individuals with high anger and tension may require interventions addressing their particular needs, with a focus on acceptance of negative emotions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Karlsson ◽  
Gunilla Burell ◽  
Ulla-Maria Anderberg ◽  
Kurt Svärdsudd

AbstractBackground and aimsStress has been pointed out as an important influential factor in the development and maintaining of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) . Since stress may worsen the pain experience, the development of individual strategies for coping with stress is essential to reduce the impact of FMS on daily life. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a group based stress management cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) programme could influence self-reported stress, wellbeing and life control, as well as self-reported pain behaviour in female FMS patients.Methods48 female FMS patient were randomized into a cognitive behaviour therapy treatment group (n = 24) and a waitlist control group (n = 24) . When the 6 months waitlist period was over the control group received the same CBT programme. This allowed two analytical approaches, one based on the randomized controlled trial design and one based on a before-and-after design to improve the statistical power of the study. Four psychometric instruments were used: The West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (three parts, MPI-1 to MPI-3), the Maastricht Questionnaire, the Everyday Life Stress, and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression rating scale – self-reported. Primary outcome was the MPI-1 dimension ‘life control’, secondary outcomes were the MPI-1 dimensions ‘interference’, ‘affective distress’ and ‘support from spouses or significant others’, the various MPI-2 dimensions, the ‘general activity level’ in the MPI-3 dimension, and ‘vital exhaustion’, ‘stress behaviour’, and ‘depression’. The only tertiary outcome was the MPI-1 dimension ‘pain severity’.ResultsIn the RCT design the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory dimensions ‘life control’, ‘interference from pain’, ‘affective distress’, ‘support from spouses or significant others’, and ‘distracting responses’ and ratings for depression improved in the treatment group as compared with the control group. In the before-and after design these improvements were maintained and enhanced during 1-year follow-up, and so was the ‘vital exhaustion’ and ‘stress behaviour’. ‘Pain severity’ was rated higher after the intervention.ConclusionsCognitive behaviour therapy improved the life control in a female population with FMS. Coping behaviour in response to chronic pain was improved at the same time and in spite of higher subjective ratings of pain. Positive effects were seen on depression, vital exhaustion and stress behaviour. The effects of therapy were maintained and enhanced during the follow up period. It appears that women with FMS after the CBT treatment, according to this protocol obtained tools leading to better acceptance of their disorder.ImplicationsFMS is a disorder with great therapeutic challenges. Total abolishment of pain symptoms is extremely difficult or impossible to achieve. Thus, the development of individual strategies for coping with pain is essential to reduce its impact on daily life. Since stress may worsen the pain experience, coping with stress might be a promising route to accomplishing that goal. In evaluations of interventions for pain it is important to monitor the effect on behaviour responses to pain and not only ratings of pain itself.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Michael Schaefer ◽  
Julian Hellmann-Regen ◽  
Sören Enge

Stress belongs to the most frequent negative feelings people are confronted with in daily life. Strategies against acute stress include, e.g., relaxation techniques or medications, but it is also known that placebos can successfully reduce negative emotional stress. While it is widely held that placebos require deception to provoke a response, recent studies demonstrate intriguing evidence that placebos may work even without concealment (e.g., against anxiety or pain). Most of these studies are based on self-report questionnaires and do not include physiological measures. Here we report results of a study examining whether placebos without deception reduce acute stress. A total of 53 healthy individuals received either placebos without deception or no pills before participating in a laboratory stress test (Maastricht Acute Stress Test, MAST). We recorded self-report stress measures and cortisol responses before and after the MAST. Results showed no significant differences between the placebo and the control group, but when comparing participants with high relative to low beliefs in the power of placebos we found significant lower anxiety and cortisol responses for the placebo believers. These results show that non-deceptive placebos may successfully reduce acute anxiety and stress, but only in participants who had a strong belief in placebos. We discuss the results by suggesting that open-label placebos might be a possible treatment to reduce stress at least for some individuals.


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