Effects of Aroma Inhalation Therapy on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and the Autonomic Nervous System in High-risk Pregnant Women

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aroma inhalation therapy on stress, anxiety, depression, and an autonomic nervous system reaction in high-risk hospitalized pregnant women. Methods: A quasiexperimental study used a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Fifty high-risk hospitalized pregnant women were selected as participants on delivery room and maternity ward at university hospital. Twenty-five were selected for the experimental group while 25 were assigned to a control group. Neroli essential oil was used for aroma therapy and was already identified as not being hazard to pregnant women. It provided emotional stability from previous study. The participants inhaled Neroli 2 minutes, 3 times (9 am to 10 am, 4 pm to 5 pm, just before sleep) a day. A total of 15 sessions were held from the day of the preliminary investigation. Pre and post written survey and measuring an autonomic nervous system reaction were collected from both groups. Results: The data were analyzed by x 2 test, t-test, and paired t-test. There was a statistically significant difference in stress (t=-3.98, p<.001) between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that aroma inhalation therapy is effective as a nursing intervention for the stress relief of hospitalized high-risk pregnant women.

Prevalence of Depression or Anxiety During Antepartum Hospitalizations for Obstetric Complications

“…There is a small body of literature on interventions to improve in-hospital depressive or anxiety symptoms in hospitalized obstetric patients. Interventions including acceptance-based therapy, 32 yoga, 21 relaxation techniques, 26,46,66,67 psychosomatic interventions, 43 music therapy, 38,68 pet therapy, 27 bed exercise programs, 31 aromatherapy, 69 educational interventions, 70,71 a stress-coping app 72 and other integrative modalities 73 have been studied. It is important to recognize that in addition to pharmacologic treatment, interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy interventions are the most wellstudied and most effective treatment 74,75 and prevention strategies 76 for perinatal mood disorders.…”

Effects of a Spouse’s Aromatherapy Hand Massage on Fatigue, Stress, and a Couple’s Relationship in Pregnant Women

“…고 있으나 여성건강관련 분야에서는 자궁적출 환자의 수술 전 불안 (Oh & Jung, 2002), 제왕절개술 산모의 수면, 불안 과 우울 (Lee & Hwang, 2011), 임부의 분만통증과 불안 (Lee & Hur, 2011), 고위험 임부의 스트레스 (Go & Park, 2017) (Go & Park, 2017;Lee & Hur, 2011;Lee & Hwang, 2011) (Tack, 1991)…”

“…최근 임부에게 신체적 관리만큼 심리적 지원의 필요성 에 대한 인식이 확대되는 가운데 의료적 지원과 상담 심리치 료적 중재보다는 보완요법 프로그램이 산모의 우울과 스트 레스에 더 효과적이라는 연구들이 발표되고 있다 (Sibbritt et al, 2014). 보완요법으로 아로마 요법은 피로, 불면증 등 여러 가지 스트레스 증상의 경감에 매우 효과적이라는 것이 입증되었다 (Go & Park, 2017;Jun et al, 2016;Lee & Hwang, 2011;Lee & Hur, 2011;Song et al, 2018). 식물의 꽃, 줄기, 뿌리 등에서 추출한 휘발성 향유인 에센셜 오일을 적용하며 흡입, 마사지, 수욕, 족욕 등의 다양한 방 법을 이용할 수 있으며, 효과가 신속하고 부작용이 거의 없 는 것으로 알려져 있다 (Jun et al, 2016).…”

The effectiveness of aromatherapy and massage on stress management in nurses: A systematic review

“…Various methods of using essential oil include massaging into the skin, adding to water for baths or inhalation via steam infusion (Ernst, ; Setayeshvali Pour, Kheirkhah, Neisani, & Haghani, ). Several essential oils used in aromatherapy have been suggested to have antistress, antidepressive and relaxation effects (Go & Park, ). Studies have identified that massage relieves anxiety and stress (Jung, Choi, Kang, & Choi, ; Saatsaz, Rezaei, Alipour, & Beheshti, ).…”