Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: February | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 155-163
Effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Techniques on Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Undergraduate Nursing Students
Mrs. Priya Gangadharan, Mrs. Amna Hussian Madani
Lecturer, Department of Mental Health Nursing, King Khalid University, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Mohayl, Assir region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Corresponding Author: Mrs. Priya GangadharanABSTRACT
Background: Medical and nursing students repeatedly experience different stresses which render them more vulnerable to psychological problems that may affect their emotional, psychosocial and physical health. Medical school environment has been recognized as a stressful with negative effects on the academic performance, physical, and psychological well beings of the students The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among nursing students and to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation technique on reducing depression, anxiety and stress among students.
Methods: Pre experimental one group pre-test post-test design was adopted to achieve the goal of the study. The data were collected from 218 undergraduate nursing students using demographic data, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 42).The progressive muscle relaxation technique was administered to nursing students identified with mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe negative emotional states.
Results: The finding of the study showed that, among 218 nursing students surveyed, the prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and stress found to be 75(34.4%), 119(54.6%) and 78(35.8%) respectively. Study results revealed that stress, anxiety and depression were significantly decreased among the study group after the intervention (p = .0001).
Conclusion: The study concludes that, progressive muscle relaxation technique is very effective in reducing depression, anxiety and stress among nursing students. After intervention most of the participants felt relaxed and reduced the severity of negative emotional states and returned to the normal state of emotion. When progressive muscle relaxation is practiced and incorporated into student’s daily routine, it would definitely help them to alleviate negative emotional states and better cope up with the daily hassles of academic life.
Key words: Effectiveness, Progressive muscle relaxation technique, depression, anxiety, stress, nursing students