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

January 21, 2023 updated by: Andreia Dias Rodrigues, University of Évora

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

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).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

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

Enrollment (Actual)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Portugal
      • Évora, Portugal, 7000-847
        • Andreia Dias Rodrigues

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 30 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Control and Intervention group
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
Psychomotor relaxation sessions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Stress
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
Stress was measured through the Portuguese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10).
1, 4 and 12 weeks.
Cortisol levels
Time Frame: 2 days
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
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
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
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
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
Time Frame: 1, 4 and 12 weeks.
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
Time Frame: 1 day (after the intervention program)
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)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Évora

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Andreia D Rodrigues, M, PhD student

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 22, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 9, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

June 9, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 28, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 20, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

January 23, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 24, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 21, 2023

Last Verified

January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 28122022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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