Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Stress in Nursing Students

NCT07781813 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KaratayUN
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluated the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises on perceived stress among nursing students during psychiatric and mental health nursing clinical practice. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used. Sixty fourth-year nursing students were allocated to an intervention group (n=30) or a control group (n=30). The intervention group participated in PMR sessions once a week for five weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes, while the control group received no additional intervention. Perceived stress was assessed before and after the intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students.

Conditions

Perceived Stress

Keywords

Progressive Muscle Relaxation; Nursing Students; Perceived Stress; Psychiatric Nursing; Stress Management

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Stress Level

  Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS). The scale consists of 29 items across six subscales. Each item is rated from 0 (not stressful for me) to 4 (extremely stressful for me), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 116. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress.

  Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Stress From Lack of Professional Knowledge and Skills

  Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention

• Stress From Taking Care of Patients

  Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention

• Stress From Assignments and Workload

  Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention

• Stress From Teachers and Nursing Staff

  Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention

• Stress From the Environment

  Baseline and immediately after the 5-week intervention

Study Arms (2)

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) sessions administered by the researcher once a week for five weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30-40 minutes.

Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group continued their usual routines and received no relaxation training or additional intervention during the study period.

Interventions

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group received progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) once a week for five weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30-40 minutes. During the first session, participants received brief instruction on PMR and diaphragmatic breathing. Under the researcher's verbal guidance, participants systematically tensed each major muscle group for approximately 5-7 seconds and then relaxed it. The same protocol was repeated weekly for five weeks under similar conditions.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 years or older
• Enrolled in the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing course
• Regular attendance in the course
• Willing to participate regularly in progressive muscle relaxation exercises if allocated to the intervention group

You may not qualify if:

• Repeating the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing course
• Receiving treatment for a mental health disorder
• Having a physical condition or disability that could prevent participation in progressive muscle relaxation exercises

Sponsors & Collaborators

• KTO Karatay University: lead

Study Sites (1)

KTO Karatay University

Konya, 42020, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Autogenic Training

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hypnosis; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Özden Gülal, MSc

  Selcuk University, Aksehir Faculty of Health Sciences

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants were allocated to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) once weekly for five weeks and a control group receiving no additional intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2026
• First Posted: August 24, 2026
• Study Start: October 3, 2022
• Primary Completion: November 7, 2022
• Study Completion: November 7, 2022
• Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)