Masters Thesis

Biofeedback and Psychophysiological Awareness Processes in Stress Management Training with Nurses

Purpose of the Study: High levels of stress are inherent in the occupation of nursing, and in the activities of being a student. The purpose of this project is to determine whether a stress management program employing educational biofeedback training and instruction in selected relaxation exercises is effective in helping individuals manage subjectively rated high levels of job and school stress. Procedure : Eight employed registered nurses, also students at the university , individually received 10 one-hour laboratory sessions focused on stress education, biofeedback training and the practice of relaxation exercises. Subjects were asked to rate job and school stress levels, and program effectiveness at pretraining. posttraining and 90-day follow-up time periods. Findings: Each subject rated the procedures as highly effective in helping her better manage the effects of life stress. All subjects reported a decrease in the number, frequency and severity of many common symptoms of stress after training, and described the project as a positive and beneficial learning experience. Conclusions : Findings indicate that individuals engaged in high stress occupations and activities can benefit greatly from formal stress education combined with instruction in specific techniques for managing stress. It also seems likely that other health professionals, in addition to nurses, might benefit from this or a similar program designed to help fight the psychophysiological effects of high stress levels generally experienced in the helping professions.

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