A within-subject comparison of different relaxation therapies in eliciting physiological and psychological changes in young women

Dib, Sarah; Wells, Jonathan C. K.; Fewtrell, Mary

doi:10.7717/peerj.9217

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Dib et al conducted a medical intervention study comparing the effects of different relaxation interventions on physiological outcomes and perceived relaxation in healthy young women to identify the most appropriate intervention(s) for use in a subsequent trial for mothers who deliver prematurely [ 20 ]. The techniques were guided imagery meditation (GIM) audio, music listening (ML), relaxation lighting (RL), GIM + RL, and ML + RL, with control (silence/sitting) assigned in random order over a three- to six-week period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Retrospective Analysis of Three Focused Attention Meditation Techniques: Mantra, Breath, and External-Point Meditation

Sharma¹,

Wernicke²,

Rahman³

et al. 2022

Cureus

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Objective The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three different meditation techniques (two internal focus techniques and one external focus technique) using a low-cost portable electroencephalography (EEG) device, namely, MUSE, for an objective comparison. Methods This is an IRB-approved retrospective study. All participants in the study were healthy adults. Each study participant (n = 34) was instructed to participate in three meditation sessions: mantra (internal), breath (internal), and external point. The MUSE brain-sensing headband (EEG) was used to document the “total time spent in the calm state” and the “total time spent in the calm or neutral state” (outcomes) in each three-minute session to conduct separate analyses for the meditation type. Separate generalized linear models (GLM) with unstructured covariance structures were used to examine the association between each outcome and the explanatory variable (meditation type). For all models, if there was a significant association between the outcome and the explanatory variable, pairwise comparisons were carried out using the Tukey-Kramer correction. Results The median time (in seconds) spent in the calm state while practicing mantra meditation was 131.5 (IQR: 94-168), while practicing breath meditation was 150 (IQR: 113-164), and while practicing external-point meditation was 100 (IQR: 62-126). Upon analysis, there was a significant association between the meditation type and the time spent in the calm state (p-value = 0.0006). Conclusion This is the first study comparing “internal” versus “external” meditation techniques using an objective measure. Our study shows the breath and mantra technique as superior to the external-point technique as regards time spent in the calm state. Additional research is needed using a combination of “EEG” and patient-reported surveys to compare various meditative practices. The findings from this study can help incorporate specific meditation practices in future mindfulness-based studies that are focused on healthcare settings and on impacting clinical outcomes, such as survival or disease outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Retrospective Analysis of Three Focused Attention Meditation Techniques: Mantra, Breath, and External-Point Meditation

Sharma¹,

Wernicke²,

Rahman³

et al. 2022

Cureus

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“…Similarly, in this study, practicing relaxation techniques did not predict coping or mental health, possibly due to the variation in frequency, duration, and type of activities. Given the potential benefit of relaxation techniques and physical activity on anxiety and depression [34][35][36][37][38], further research is warranted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on maternal mental health and coping in the UK: Data from the COVID-19 New Mum Study

Dib

Rougeaux

Vázquez‐Vázquez

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Depression and anxiety affect up to 20% of new and expectant mothers during the perinatal period; this rate may have increased due to COVID-19 and lockdown measures. This analysis aimed to assess how mothers are feeling and coping during lockdown, and to identify the potential pathways that can assist them. Methods: 1329 women living in the UK aged ≥18 years with an infant ≤12 months of age completed an anonymous online survey. Descriptive analysis of maternal mental health, coping, support received, activities undertaken and consequences of lockdown was conducted. Linear regression was used to predict maternal mental health and coping, using activities, support, and consequences of the lockdown as predictors, while adjusting for age, gestational age, ethnicity, income, marital status and number of children. Results: More than half of the participants reported feeling down (56%), lonely (59%), irritable (62%) and worried (71%), to some or high extent since lockdown began. Despite this, 70% felt able to cope with the situation. Support with her own health (95% CI .004, .235), contacting infant support groups (95% CI -.003, .252), and higher infant gestational age (95% CI .000, .063) predicted better mental health. Travelling for work (95% CI -.680, -.121), lockdown having a major impact on the ability to afford food (95% CI -1.202, -.177), and having an income lower than 30k (95% CI -.475, -.042) predicted poorer mental health. Support with her own health and more equal division of household chores were associated with better coping. Conclusion: During lockdown, a large proportion of new mothers experienced symptoms of poor mental health; mothers of infants with lower gestational age, with low income, and who are travelling to work were particularly at risk. However, greater support for maternal health and with household chores showed positive associations with maternal mental health and coping. These findings highlight the urgent need to assess maternal mental health, and to identify prevention strategies for mothers during different stages of lockdown.

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“…Based on the results of a previously published pilot study [ 22 ], a guided-imagery breastfeeding meditation was selected as the method of relaxation in this study. The 11-min audio was recorded by a mental health nurse with experience in hypnobirthing and meditation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Breastfeeding Relaxation Intervention Promotes Growth in Late Preterm and Early Term Infants: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2022

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Breastfeeding involves signaling between mother and offspring through biological (breast milk) and behavioral pathways. This study tested this by examining the effects of a relaxation intervention in an understudied infant population. Breastfeeding mothers of late preterm (340/7–366/7 weeks) and early term (370/7–386/7 weeks) infants were randomized to the relaxation group (RG, n = 35), where they were asked to listen to a meditation recording while breastfeeding from 3 weeks post-delivery, or the control group (CG, n = 37) where no intervention was given. Primary outcomes-maternal stress and infant weight-were assessed at 2–3 (baseline) and 6–8 weeks post-delivery. Secondary outcomes included infant length, infant behavior, maternal verbal memory, salivary cortisol, and breast milk composition. Infants in the RG had significantly higher change in weight-for-age Z-score compared to those in CG (effect size: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.71; p = 0.01), and shorter crying duration [RG: 5.0 min, 0.0–120.0 vs. CG: 30.0 min, 0.0–142.0; p = 0.03]. RG mothers had greater reduction in cortisol (effect size: −0.08 ug/dL, 95% CI −0.15, −0.01; p = 0.03) and better maternal verbal learning score (effect size: 1.1 words, 95% CI 0.04, 2.1; p = 0.04) than CG mothers, but did not differ in stress scores. A simple relaxation intervention during breastfeeding could be beneficial in promoting growth of late preterm and early term infants. Further investigation of other potential biological and behavioral mediators is warranted.

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A within-subject comparison of different relaxation therapies in eliciting physiological and psychological changes in young women

Cited by 7 publications

References 39 publications

A Retrospective Analysis of Three Focused Attention Meditation Techniques: Mantra, Breath, and External-Point Meditation

A Retrospective Analysis of Three Focused Attention Meditation Techniques: Mantra, Breath, and External-Point Meditation

The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on maternal mental health and coping in the UK: Data from the COVID-19 New Mum Study

A Breastfeeding Relaxation Intervention Promotes Growth in Late Preterm and Early Term Infants: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

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