Single-trial treatment of anxiety as a function of the interaction between relaxation procedures and personal response modes

Boulos, Donna Marie (1986) Single-trial treatment of anxiety as a function of the interaction between relaxation procedures and personal response modes. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study examines the importance of matching individual response modes and treatment modes in relieving anxiety. Fifty-five university students high on trait anxiety were categorized as expressing anxiety primarily through somatic symptoms, cognitive concerns, or in a mixed fashion. Half the subjects in each group were given single-session training in modified progressive muscle relaxation, and the other half received single-session training in guided imagery. Pre-post session state anxiety and pulse-rate measures were taken for all subjects. Other post-session measures included subjects’ ratings of their level of absorption during the session and their perceived expectations of treatment effectiveness. The results did not indicate a significant difference between matched and unmatched groups, although all groups became significantly less anxious as a result of training. Because other studies have found matching of anxiety mode and treatment method to be important, it is conjectured that the absence of a matching effect in this study was the result of employing only a single session, or of the characteristics of the subject sample, or possibly of overlapping effects between relaxation methods. Further research directions to clarify these issues were discussed.

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