Effect of Self-Foot Reflexology massage on Depression, Stress Responses and Immune Functions of Middle Aged Women.
10.4040/jkan.2006.36.1.179
- Author:
Yun Mi LEE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Inje University. lym312@inje.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Depression;
Foot reflexology;
Stress response;
Immune function;
Middle aged women
- MeSH:
Stress, Psychological/immunology/*nursing;
Middle Aged;
*Massage;
Leukocyte Count;
Killer Cells, Natural;
Immunoglobulin G/*blood;
Humans;
*Foot;
Female;
Depression/immunology/*nursing;
Adult
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2006;36(1):179-188
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify the effects of a self-foot reflexology massage on depression, stress responses and functions of the immune system of middle-aged women. METHOD: This study was a one group pretest-posttest experimental design and the data was collected from August 1st, 2004 to May 31st, 2005. The subjects consisted of 46 middle-aged women (40 - 64 years) who were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan city. Subjects were not treated for 4 weeks, subsequently they were trained in self foot reflexology massage for 2 weeks, and then they did their own daily for 6weeks (2 days at the research center, 5 days at home).The outcome variables were measured 4 times, at baseline, pre training, after training, and after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA by the SPSS/WIN program. RESULT: There was a statistically significant difference in depression, perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, natural-killer cells and Ig G. However, there was not a statistically significant difference in dyastolic blood pressure, pulse or serum cortisol. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a self-foot reflexology massage could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce depression and stress responses, and to strengthen immune systems in middle-aged women.
