A study of music and/or muscle relaxation and specific participant variables and their relationship with state anxiety reduction

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the relationship between three different methods of relaxation (listening to music, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and a combination of music listening and PMR) and state anxiety reduction (as indicated by a feeling of reduced tension for the participant, measured on a self-rating scale). The study also examined the relationship between specific variables (age, sex, music training, music preferences, familiarity with music, degree of liking for music, knowledge of, and experience in, PMR, and learning style) and response to a relaxation method. The study involved forty male and female volunteers, ranging in age from 18 - 60 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups or a control group. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the analysis of results. Results indicated that for the participants in this study, all methods were associated with a decrease in state anxiety, the combined methods being no more effective in achieving reduced tension levels than the independent methods. However, a significant difference was achieved between the PMR group and the control group, with the mean decrease in tension level for the PMR group higher on average than that of the control group. There was also no significant difference observed between the relaxation sessions and the controlled opportunity for social interaction, attended by all participants. Further, case studies indicated that response to relaxation methods is a highly individual one.

Date of Award	1999
Original language	English
Supervisor	Juliana Therese Colbran (Supervisor)