Kindergarten-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training Enhances Attention and Executive Functioning: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Executive functions and attention are crucial for early childhood learning.
• Interventions targeting these skills in preschool settings are of significant interest.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a technique known for its stress-reduction benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a kindergarten-based Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) program on attention and executive functioning in 5-6-year-old children.
• To compare the effects of PMR with generic physical education (PE) and a control group (CG).

Main Methods:

• A randomized-controlled trial involving 52 children from two Tunisian kindergartens.
• Participants were assigned to PMR, PE, or CG for 12 weeks (two 30-minute sessions/week).
• Neuropsychological assessments (NEPSY-2, Teddy Bear Cancellation, Rey Simple Figure) were administered pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The PMR group showed significantly higher scores in attention, visuomotor precision, memory, and motor inhibition compared to PE and CG groups post-intervention.
• No significant group differences were observed at the pre-intervention baseline.
• PMR demonstrated effectiveness as a relaxation technique and cognitive enhancer.

Conclusions:

• Kindergarten-based PMR effectively enhances attention and executive functioning in young children.
• These improvements have significant implications for supporting learning and academic achievement in early education.
• PMR offers a valuable, non-pharmacological approach to cognitive enhancement in preschool settings.