The effect of guided relaxation on cortisol and affect: Stress reactivity as a moderator. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Unger, Cynthia A; Busse, David; Yim, Ilona S
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 22:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 38
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: affect -- cortisol -- guided relaxation -- intervention -- stress; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105315595118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Stress-reduction interventions have been linked with enhanced well-being and health. This study examined affect and cortisol in 111 individuals randomly assigned to a single 35-minute guided relaxation or a stress management lecture control group. Positive affect increased more in the relaxation compared to the control group ( F = 6.62, p = .01). Dispositional stress reactivity had a moderating influence ( R 2 = .248, p < .001), such that individuals high in stress reactivity showed highest increases in positive affect to the relaxation. Results indicate that a single guided relaxation intervention improves positive affect among individuals high in stress reactivity.