The Relaxation Inventory: self-report scales of relaxation training effects

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Assessing the impact of relaxation techniques is crucial for therapeutic efficacy.
• Existing measures may not adequately capture the multifaceted effects of relaxation training.
• A validated self-report instrument is needed to quantify changes in tension and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a self-report questionnaire to measure the effects of relaxation training.
• To create a psychometrically sound instrument with distinct scales for different tension dimensions.
• To establish the reliability and validity of the new measure in diverse experimental conditions.

Main Methods:

• A modified scale discrimination technique was used for scale construction.
• A 45-item questionnaire with three orthogonally derived scales was developed: Physiological Tension, Physical Assessment, and Cognitive Tension.
• Predictive validity was assessed through a study involving random assignment to relaxation training, tension inducement, or control groups.

Main Results:

• The developed scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency (KR20: .89, .95, .81).
• The Physiological Tension Scale accurately detected increased tension after tension inducement.
• The Physical Assessment and Cognitive Tension Scales effectively identified increased relaxation following relaxation training.

Conclusions:

• The 45-item questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the effects of relaxation training.
• The instrument successfully differentiates between induced tension and relaxation states.
• Further research is recommended to explore the inventory's applications in various clinical and research settings.