The Holistic Effect of Complementary Interventions in Reducing Stress in College Students
Linda Cefo1, Kellyann Navarre2, Allyson Chicoski3
1Cleveland State University College of Health, Cleveland, OH, USA.
None:
The purpose of this research was to examine the holistic effects of combined complementary therapies in reducing stress in college students. This convergent mixed-method study provided aromatherapy, massage, and meditation music sessions to college students (N = 50) just before finals week. Paired t-tests analyzed pre-session and post-session perceived stress and anxiety as well as objective physiological measures, including salivary cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure. There was a significant difference in the scores for perceived stress before and after the sessions, t(49) = 4.72, p < .001, as well as pre-anxiety and post-anxiety, t(49) = 10.27, p < .001. Additionally, salivary cortisol levels significantly reduced from pre-session to post-session t(49) = 2.76, p = .008; and a significant reduction in heart rate from pre-session to post-session, t(49) = 3.73, p < .001. This study demonstrates that 20 min of brief complementary interventions can alter students' subjective holistic health perspectives, with objective physiological data confirming changes that promote health and wellbeing.
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