Positive Health Online

Abstract

SMITH and colleagues, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA catalogued the treatment experiences of massage, abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), yoga stretching, breathing, imagery meditation and various combinations thereof.

Background

Methodology

940 practitioners of the above therapies described their experiences on an 82-item wordlist.

Results

Analyses yielded 10 interpretable relaxation categories: 1) Joyful Affects and Appraisals (Joyful); 2) Distant; 3) Calm; 4) Aware; 5) Prayerful; 6) Accepted; 7) Untroubled; 8) Limp; 9) Silent; and 10) Mystery. The relaxation response and cognitive/somatic models predict Calm and Limp, which account for merely 5.5% of the variance of the relaxation experience. The authors discovered important technique differences: PMR and massage are associated with Distant and Limp; yoga stretching, breathing and meditation with Aware; meditation with Prayerful; and all techniques except PMR with Joyful. These results are consistent with cognitive-behavioural relaxation theory and have important implications regarding relaxation theory, treatment, training, assessment and research.

Conclusion

: The authors end with a revised model of relaxation which suggests three global dimensions: tension-relief, passive disengagement and passive engagement.

References

Smith JC et al. Relaxation: mapping an uncharted world. Biofeedback Self Regul 21(1): 63-90. Mar 1996.