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Aggressive adolescents benefit from massage therapy.
Miguel A Diego1, Tiffany Field, Maria Hernandez-Reif
1Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101, USA.
Adolescence
|December 3, 2002
Summary
Massage therapy significantly reduced anxiety and aggression in adolescents. Compared to relaxation therapy, massage led to lower anxiety levels and decreased aggressive behaviors reported by adolescents and their parents.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Behavior
- Therapeutic Interventions
Background:
- Adolescent aggression presents a significant challenge.
- Effective interventions for aggressive behavior in adolescents are needed.
- Massage therapy shows potential for psychological benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of massage therapy on aggressive adolescents.
- To compare massage therapy with relaxation therapy for managing adolescent aggression and anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen aggressive adolescents were randomly assigned to either a massage therapy group or a relaxation therapy group.
- Participants received 20-minute therapy sessions, twice weekly for five weeks.
- Anxiety, hostility, and aggression levels were assessed.
Main Results:
- Adolescents in the massage therapy group showed reduced anxiety after the first and last sessions.
- Massage therapy participants reported decreased hostility and were perceived as less aggressive by parents.
- No significant differences in aggression or anxiety were found in the relaxation therapy group.
Conclusions:
- Massage therapy appears to be an effective intervention for reducing anxiety and aggression in adolescents.
- Massage therapy may offer a beneficial alternative to relaxation therapy for this population.
- Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and mechanisms of massage therapy in adolescent behavior.