The Effects of a Relaxation Intervention on College Students' Social-emotional Competence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Objective: To examine the impact of a psychomotor relaxation program on college students' social-emotional competence, personal and professional development. Participants: Twenty female college students participated. Methods: In this non-random one-group repeated measures study with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis), participants were tested on two occasions 4 weeks apart (baseline measure), and then engaged in the psychomotor relaxation program twice weekly for 8 weeks. Participants were tested again after the intervention program (post-test).

Detailed Description
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This was a non-random one-group repeated measures study with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis), where participants served as their own controls. The investigators examined the chronic effects of the intervention program, collecting the instruments online at week 1 (pretest 1) and week 5 (pretest 2), to establish the baseline measures, and at the end of the 8-week period (post-test). In the post-test evaluation, participants also completed the questionnaire with open-ended questions. Investigators also measured salivary cortisol at the beginning and end of the 1st and the 15th sessions to evaluate the acute effects of the intervention program. Students participated in a psychomotor relaxation program comprised by two 20-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, combining body awareness, muscle tone regulation and breathing exercises

Official Title
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The Effects of a Relaxation Intervention on College Students' Social-emotional Competence: A Mixed Methods Approach

Conditions
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Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Psychomotor Relaxation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age between 18 and 30 years old not having participated in a similar intervention program within the last 6 months not have a physical condition that can affect participation in the program do not take medication that can influence the studied outcomes. Exclusion Criteria: age under 18 or over 30 years old have participated in a similar intervention program within the last 6 months have a physical condition that can affect participation in the program take medication that can influence the studied outcomes.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Control and Intervention group<br>In this non-random one-group repeated measures study with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis), participants were tested on two occasions 4 weeks apart (baseline measure), and then engaged in the psychomotor relaxation program twice weekly for 8 weeks. Participants were tested again after the intervention program (post-test). The participants took part in a psychomotor relaxation program comprised by two 20-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, with the whole class, and combined body awareness, muscle tone regulation and breathing exercises. | Other: Psychomotor Relaxation<br>* Psychomotor relaxation sessions.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Stress | Stress was measured through the Portuguese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). | 1, 4 and 12 weeks. | 
| Cortisol levels | Cortisol levels (mcg/dL) were quantified in saliva samples collected at the same time and in the same place where the intervention occurred. Before and after the 1st and 15th session, the samples were collected directly from each participant's mouth. | 2 days | 
| Change in Affective states | Affective states were measured through the Portuguese short version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). | 1, 4 and 12 weeks. | 
| Change in Interoceptive awareness | Interoceptive awareness was measured through the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). | 1, 4 and 12 weeks. | 
| Change in Psychological wellbeing | Psychological wellbeing was measured through the Portuguese short version of the Scales of Psychological Wellbeing (EBEP). | 1, 4 and 12 weeks. | 
| Personal and professional development | A questionnaire was created to the present study comprising 3 open-ended questions concerning the perception of the students about the influence of the intervention program on their personal development, and the benefits that the intervention program may have in the exercise of their future profession as an early childhood educator. | 1 day (after the intervention program) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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social-emotional development, body-oriented intervention, stress, higher education