This study evaluated the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises on perceived stress among nursing students during psychiatric and mental health nursing clinical practice. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used. Sixty fourth-year nursing students were allocated to an intervention group (n=30) or a control group (n=30). The intervention group participated in PMR sessions once a week for five weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes, while the control group received no additional intervention. Perceived stress was assessed before and after the intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted with fourth-year nursing students enrolled in the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing course at KTO Karatay University. The study used a pretest-posttest control group design. Students were allocated to intervention and control groups according to their positions on the official class attendance list; students with odd-numbered positions formed one group and those with even-numbered positions formed the other group. The intervention group was determined by a random selection from sealed envelopes labeled "odd numbers" and "even numbers." A total of 60 students participated in the study, with 30 students in each group. Baseline data were collected using a Student Information Form and the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students. Following the pretest assessment, students in the intervention group participated in progressive muscle relaxation sessions once a week for five weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30-40 minutes and included diaphragmatic breathing and systematic tensing and relaxing of major muscle groups under the verbal guidance of the researcher. Students in the control group continued their usual routines and received no relaxation training or additional intervention during the study period. At the end of the five-week intervention period, the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students was readministered to both groups. Pretest and posttest perceived stress scores were compared within and between groups to evaluate the effect of the progressive muscle relaxation intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Participants in the intervention group received progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) once a week for five weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30-40 minutes. During the first session, participants received brief instruction on PMR and diaphragmatic breathing. Under the researcher's verbal guidance, participants systematically tensed each major muscle group for approximately 5-7 seconds and then relaxed it. The same protocol was repeated weekly for five weeks under similar conditions.
KTO Karatay University
Konya, Turkey (Türkiye)
Perceived Stress Level
Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS). The scale consists of 29 items across six subscales. Each item is rated from 0 (not stressful for me) to 4 (extremely stressful for me), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 116. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
Stress From Lack of Professional Knowledge and Skills
This subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS) consists of 3 items (items 2, 7, and 11). Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a subscale score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress related to lack of professional knowledge and skills.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
Stress From Taking Care of Patients
This subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS) consists of 8 items (items 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 19). Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a subscale score ranging from 0 to 32. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress related to patient care.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
Stress From Assignments and Workload
This subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS) consists of 5 items (items 3, 9, 13, 17, and 21). Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a subscale score ranging from 0 to 20. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress related to assignments and workload.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
Stress From Teachers and Nursing Staff
This subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS) consists of 6 items (items 15, 16, 18, 20, 25, and 27). Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a subscale score ranging from 0 to 24. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress related to teachers and nursing staff.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
Stress From the Environment
This subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS) consists of 3 items (items 5, 23, and 26). Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a subscale score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress related to the clinical environment.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
Stress From Peers and Daily Life
This subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS) consists of 4 items (items 22, 24, 28, and 29). Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a subscale score ranging from 0 to 16. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress related to peers and daily life.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention
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