Assessment of the use of progressive relaxation in a stress reduction program

The purpose of this research project was to determine the effectiveness of progressive relaxation for controlling and minimizing stress in a work setting. Excessive stress affects health and work performance. The occupational health nurse should focus on providing access to preventative health programs which use relaxation techniques such as progressive relaxation for stress reduction. Employees should become aware of the source of their stress. Through stress reduction programs, employees may learn to cope with their stress before it become chronic and negatively effects health. The one group pretest-posttest design was chosen for this study. Participants acted as their own control group participation in the pretest, a six seek progressive relaxation regimen, a weekly self-report rating of tension scale, and the posttest. The effectiveness of progressive relaxation was measured by Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, (TMAS, self-report rating scale of tension, and blood pressure measurement. Blood pressure measurements were taken pre- and post training by independent raters. The sample was composed of 25 volunteers employed at a local hospital. Most of the participants had completed one year or more of college and were licensed female nurses' working day and afternoon shift in the general care area. The sample grouped in age from 22-62 years. The study results suggested that the practice of progressive relaxation could effect a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (p<.01), but no significant changes were found in diastolic blood pressure. The TMAS showed significant decreases in anxiety at posttest (p<.01). The self-report rating scale did not show significant differences in perceived levels of tension; future studies should consider an alternate tool to measure perceived levels of tension. Participants reported decreased physical symptoms of stress at posttest. Participants rated their own health as good and their co-worker's health as good as their own. This study presented limitation in sample selection, size, and inequality of groups. The one group pretest-posttest design has inherent threats to internal validity. Future studies require larger sample with random design and a control group. Future studies in hospitals and other work settings should consider the effects of work environment, occupation, and shift in relationship to measures of anxiety and blood pressure. Follow-up studies should be done to determine the long term effects of relaxation techniques on stress reduction in the work setting.