J Nurs Acad Soc.  1993 Mar;23(1):29-41.

A Study on Korean Imaginations of Relaxation

• Park JS

Abstract

Relaxation technique is an independent nursing intervention used in various stressful situations. Relaxation techniques must be explored regarding relaxing imaginations used by the people in their traditional life experiences. So for Korean relaxation techniques to become culturally acceptable and effective imaginations of relaxation must be developed. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in relaxation levels of Koreans according to five relaxation imaginations and five groups and to analyze the factors influencing relaxation techniques for Korean people. The subjects were 38 hospitalized patients, 21 rural residents, 56 housewives, 16 researchers and 59 nursing students. Data were collected from September 4 to October 24, 1991 by interview or self-report questionnaires. The measurement tool was the graphic rating scale of relaxation levels. The data analysis was done by percent, ANOVA and Scheffe test using the SAS program. The results of study arc summerized as follows; 1. The relaxation level of Koreans was significantly different for the five relaxation imaginations (F=5.95, P=0.0001). Relaxation level of 'after bathing imagination' was 6.90, 'in bed imagination' was 6.55, 'in the mountain imagination' was 6.01. 'snow and fireplace imagination' was 5.84 and 'at the seashore imagination' was 5.80. As a result of the Scheffe test, 'after bathing imagination' was found to show a higher relaxation level than 'at the seashore imagination" 'in the mountain imagination' and 'snow and fireplace imagination(P<.05). 2. The relaxation levels of the Koreans were not different for the five groups(F=1.26, P=0.29). 3. There were no differences in the relaxation level of the koreans according to sex, age, place of residence, place of residence during childhood, mari-' tal status, religion or educational status. In conclusion, Korean people prefer the 'relaxation imagination of after bathing' to western style relaxation imagination of 'at the seashore imagination' and 'snow and fireplace imagination'.

MeSH Terms

Baths
Educational Status
Humans
Imagination*
Life Change Events
Nursing
Surveys and Questionnaires
Relaxation Therapy
Relaxation*
Statistics as Topic
Students, Nursing