Effects of progressive muscle relaxation and music on stress as measured by finger temperature response

Measured the efficacy of music, progressive muscle relaxation, and a combination of both variables on tension reduction. Ss were three sections (N = 76) of an introductory music class. Each section received either sedative music (M), progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), or both (M + PMR) as treatment. Vasoconstriction, or finger temperature, was used to measure stress level prior to and after the intervention. All three groups evidenced significant increases in finger temperature. There was no significant difference among treatment groups, although the M + PMR group's mean increase was greater than the grand mean, while the M and PMR groups' increases were below the grand mean.