Daily Relaxation Response Breaks, Follow-Up Study of a Work-Based Stress Management Program

摘要

A six-month follow-up of a work-based stress management program investigated the long-term maintenance of daily relaxation response breaks in office workers as well as the maintenance of changes observed during a previous twelve-week randomized trial. There were three groups in the original study: Group A was taught the 'one technique' for producing the relaxation response; Group B was 'taught' to sit quietly; and Group C was taught nothing. Groups A and B were asked to take two 15-minute relaxation breaks daily. After an 8-week experimental period, the greatest mean improvements on every index measured occurred in Group A; the least improvements occurred in Group C; and the improvements in Group B were intermediate. Groups B and C were then taught the 'one technique' before the investigators left the plant.