Perceived Stress
Conditions
Keywords
Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Nursing Students, Perceived Stress, Psychiatric Nursing, Stress Management
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALProgressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
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.
Sponsors
KTO Karatay University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants were allocated to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) once weekly for five weeks and a control group receiving no additional intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 18 years or older * Enrolled in the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing course * Regular attendance in the course * Willing to participate regularly in progressive muscle relaxation exercises if allocated to the intervention group
Exclusion criteria
* Repeating the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing course * Receiving treatment for a mental health disorder * Having a physical condition or disability that could prevent participation in progressive muscle relaxation exercises
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Stress Level | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stress From Lack of Professional Knowledge and Skills | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
| Stress From Taking Care of Patients | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
| Stress From Assignments and Workload | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
| Stress From Teachers and Nursing Staff | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
| Stress From the Environment | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
| Stress From Peers and Daily Life | Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention | 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. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORÖzden Gülal, MSc
Selcuk University, Aksehir Faculty of Health Sciences
Outcome results
None listed