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).
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
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Psychomotor relaxation sessions.
Andreia Dias Rodrigues
Evora, Portugal
Change in Stress
Stress was measured through the Portuguese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10).
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 2 days
Change in Affective states
Affective states were measured through the Portuguese short version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS).
Time frame: 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).
Time frame: 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).
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 1 day (after the intervention program)
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