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The effect of guided relaxation on cortisol and affect: Stress reactivity as a moderator
Cynthia A Unger1, David Busse1, Ilona S Yim1
11 University of California, Irvine, USA.
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 ( R2 = .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.
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