A Study on the Effect of Self-Management and Relaxation Training through Biofeedback on Influencing the Stress Response and Immune Functions

Lee, Soowoo; Kim, Keum Soon; Park, Sung Hoi

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of self-management relaxation training through biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation methods. The effectiveness of the experimental methods was tested by measuring the degree of symptoms of stress(SOS), the McNair's profile of Mood STates(POMS), the levels of ephinephrine, norepinephrine, pulse rate, blood pressure and natural killer cells. The subjects of this study were sixty six nursing students divided into four groups two groups were the biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation groups, the other two groups served as control groups. One was a group of sophomores with no experience at all, the other a junior group without self-management or relaxation training. This study was condicted for eight weeks of clinical practice from April, 26th 1998 to June, 20th 1998. Biofeedback training was done with software developed by J&J company(1-410 form for abdominal respiration training). Progressive muscle relaxation training was done with an audiotape recorded according to Jacobson's Theory. The data were analyzed with frequencies, means, and analysis of cobariance using the SPSS program and the significance level of statistics was 5%. The results of the study are : 1) The importance of clinical practice stress reduction is shown in that the level of symptoms of stress in the experimental groups in clinical practice was higher than in the group receiving only a lecture. 2) The relaxation training methods of biofeeback and progressive muscle relaxation were effective in reducing the symptoms of stress under the clinical practice stress conditions. 3) The effectiveness of the biofeedback training relaxation method to reduce symptoms of stress was higher than that of progressive muscle relaxation. 4) The relaxation training methods of biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation were effective in reducing stressful mood states. 5) The relaxation training methods of bioffedback and progressive muscle relaxation were not effective in reducing epinephrine and norepinephrine levels. 6) The relaxation training methods of biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation were effective in increasing the number of natural killer cells. 7) The relaxation training methods of biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation were effective in decreasing high systolic and diastolic values of blood pressure and high pulse rates. In summary, the relaxation methods of biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation in reducing clinical practice stress were effective in lowering the level of symptoms of stress and the profile of stressful mood states. They were also effective in lowering high blood pressure and pulse rates. The relaxation methods were effective in increasing the number of natural killer cells as part of the immune function. However, relaxation methods were not effective symptoms of stress was more effective than the progressive muscle relaxation method.