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Imaging ability and effective use of guided imagery
K Kwekkeboom1, K Huseby-Moore, S Ward
1University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, 53792, USA.
Research in Nursing & Health
|June 3, 1998
Summary
Absorption, not image vividness, predicts guided imagery success for anxiety relief. Higher absorption scores indicate better outcomes, aiding in predicting effectiveness for pain and distress management.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Guided imagery is used for symptom relief.
- Individual differences in imaging ability may influence outcomes.
- Absorption and image vividness are potential moderators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if imaging ability and absorption moderate guided imagery's effect on anxiety.
- To identify predictors of success in guided imagery interventions.
Main Methods:
- 60 graduate students completed Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery, and Tellegen's Absorption Scale (TAS).
- Participants underwent a guided imagery intervention for anxiety.
- Data from 30 anxious participants were analyzed, comparing successful and unsuccessful imagery users.
Main Results:
- Successful imagery users had significantly higher absorption (TAS) scores.
- No significant differences were found in image generation scores between groups.
- Two TAS items showed potential as predictors of guided imagery success.
Conclusions:
- Absorption is a key factor in guided imagery effectiveness for anxiety relief.
- Image generation ability did not predict success in this study.
- Findings may inform the development of tools to predict guided imagery success for conditions like cancer pain.