Guided Imagery Group Research Articles

Effect of Guided Imagery, Sports Activity & Composite Training in the Management of Nomophobia

Nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone, has become a prevalent issue in modern society. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of three intervention approaches in managing nomophobia: guided imagery, sports activity, and composite training. For data Self-made nomophobia questionnaires were applied on 200 college student samples aged 18-24, out of which 80 nomophobic students were selected. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three intervention groups or a control group. The guided imagery group engaged in relaxation techniques and visualization exercises, while the sports activity group participated in physical activities. The composite training group received a combination of guided imagery and sports activities. The control group did not receive any intervention. Nomophobia levels were assessed using the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) before and after the interventions. Results showed that all three intervention groups experienced a significant reduction in nomophobia levels compared to the control group. The sports activity group demonstrated the most substantial decrease in nomophobia scores. The findings suggest that a combined approach of guided imagery and sports activity may be the most effective in managing nomophobia among college students aged 18-24. These insights contribute to developing targeted strategies to address the growing concern of nomophobia and its potential negative impacts on the mental health and well-being of young adults.

The effect of guided imagery on procedural pain in children: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Pain poses a major health problem for children. There are many non-pharmacological methods that are successful at helping alleviate pain. This study aimed to explore how guided imagery affects pain experiences of children during venipuncture. The sample consisted of 150 children who were 8–12 years old. Our results indicate that pain scores and average heart rate of children in the guided imagery group were statistically lower than the control group’s values. The mean oxygen saturation of the guided imagery group during and after venipuncture was higher when compared to the control group. The findings of the present study have suggested that guided imagery is effective at easing pain of children during venipuncture.

Pelatihan Konseling Kelompok Pembayangan Terbimbing Berfokus Solusi pada Guru BK SMP di Kota Batu

The low group counseling skills at the Guidance and Counseling Teacher Consultation (MGBK) in Batu City is indicated by the intensity of conducting group counseling services. In fact, the more complex the problems faced by students require steps and innovations for counselors in the implementation of services. The purpose of the training is to develop the competence of counselors in understanding and applying the skills of solution-focused guided imagery group counseling. The training implementation method uses structured learning with stages of preparation, assessment, implementation, and evaluation (3PE). The results of the training showed that the trainees were enthusiastic about the implementation of the training and the evaluation of the results showed an increase in the application of solution-focused guided imagery group counseling.

Effects of Group-delivered Stress-reduction Guided Imagery on Salivary Cortisol, Salivary Amylase, and Stress Mood in Urban, Predominantly Latino Adolescents.

ObjectivesTo determine acute effects of stress-reduction guided imagery delivered in group format on stress biomarkers salivary cortisol and salivary amylase, and on self-reported stress mood, in healthy, predominantly Latino adolescents.Study Design111 adolescent participants (94% Latino), a subset from a large, randomized controlled lifestyle intervention to improve obesity-related health behaviors, received either 4 weekly lifestyle education sessions (Lifestyle group; LS) or the same weekly lifestyle education sessions plus an additional weekly stress-reduction guided imagery session delivered in group format (Guided imagery group; GI). Salivary cortisol, salivary amylase, and self-reported stress moods were assessed before and after sessions on intervention weeks 3 and 4. Statistics: Linear mixed effects models examined within- and between-session and group differences in pre- to post-session changes.ResultsBoth groups showed decreases in salivary cortisol, 5% decrease in LS group and 32% in GI group (within-group differences all P < .05), with between-group difference in salivary cortisol of moderate size (P = .05; Cohen’s d = .44). Within the GI group alone, salivary cortisol decrease was similar following either the lifestyle or GI sessions (P = .64). There were no statistically significant amylase changes within or between groups. All 5 individual stress moods declined by 27% to 46% in the GI group (all P < .05), while only 1 of the 5 declined in LS group.ConclusionsGroup stress-reduction guided imagery reduces the stress biomarker salivary cortisol, as well as reducing subjective stress mood states, making it a viable modality for large scale stress-reduction interventions.

THOUGHT STOPING AND GUIDED IMAGERY THERAPY EFFECTS ON ANXIETY LEVEL OF THIRD TRIMESTER PRIMIGRAVIDA PREGNANT WOMEN

Background: The first pregnancy can cause psychological problems, namely anxiety, if left untreated it will have a negative impact on both the mother and the fetus. Actions to reduce anxiety include thought stopping and guided imagery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of Tought Stopping and Guided Imagery therapy on the anxiety level of third trimester primgravida pregnant women in the New Basirih Health Center area.&#x0D; Method: This type of research is quantitative with a non equivalent control group design pretest-posttest. The study population was all third trimester primigravida pregnant women in the Puskesmas Basirih Baru area. The research samples were 20 trimester primigravida pregnant women, divided into thought stopping intervention and guided imagery groups with total sampling technique. Instruments for measuring anxiety, namely HRS-A, Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney test analysis.&#x0D; Results: Thought stopping statistic result p-value = 0.005 and guided imagery statistic result p-value = 0.007 so both has affected the anxiety level of pregnant women.&#x0D; Conclusion: Thought stopping and guided imagery can be used by pregnant women to reduce anxiety levels.&#x0D; Keywords: Anxiety Level, Guided Imagery, Thought Stopping.

Effectiveness of ACT vs Guided Imagery on Emotional Regulation of Cardiac Patients

Background: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Guided Imagery (GI) in the Emotional Regulation (ER) of cardiovascular patients referred to a cardiac rehabilitation department. Methods: This was an experimental study with a pre-test, post-test design and a 45-day follow-up. Using the purposive sampling method, 45 patients with cardiovascular diseases were selected among those who referred to the cardiac rehabilitation ward of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad City, Iran, from March to August 2017; the patients were then assigned into three groups. The intervention groups received ACT or GI programs. Also, the patients completed the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Results: The obtained data indicated a significant difference between the ACT and GI groups, concerning positive and negative ER. Also, the analysis of variance suggested the effectiveness of both interventions in the studied subjects (P&lt;0.001). Besides, the effectiveness of ACT was significantly greater than that of GI in increasing positive and negative ER among the studied patients. Conclusion: The present findings reveal that experiential avoidance—as one of the main cores of psychological inflexibility in ACT—is significantly and negatively correlated with adaptive ER strategies. One of the main goals of ACT is to reduce avoidance, thus, ACT can improve adaptive ER strategies. Accordingly, ACT is more effective than GI in increasing positive ER strategies in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

The effects of neuro-linguistic programming and guided imagery on the pain and comfort after open-heart surgery.

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and guided imagery on postoperative pain and comfort after open-heart surgery. In the current, prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical study, the participants received NLP with a new behavior formation technique or the guided imagery relaxation technique using an audio compact disc for a duration of 30 min. The patients in the NLP group had significantly lower posttest pain levels, compared to the patients in the guided imagery and control groups. Moreover, the patients in the guided imagery group had significantly higher posttest comfort levels, compared to the patients in the NLP and control groups. The application of both NLP and guided imagery interventions resulted in reduced postoperative pain and increased postoperative comfort levels after open-heart surgery.

The effect of guided imagery and reflexology on pain intensity, duration of labor and birth satisfaction in primiparas: randomized controlled trial

The aim of the researchers is to determine the effects of guided imagery and foot reflexology on pain intensity, duration of labor, and birth satisfaction. While cervical dilation was 4 cm, the guided imagery group has watched the guided imagery video; the reflexology group has received reflexology for both feet for 30 min. The mean VAS scores of the experimental groups were statistically lower than the mean score of the control group. The difference between the time averages of the groups was found to be significant. Birth satisfaction meanscores of the experimental groups was found to be higher than the control group.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Nursing Consultation and Guided Imagery-Based Training on Stress and Anxiety in Angiography Candidates: A Clinical Trial

Background: Despite the use of various pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods for reducing stress among patients, one of the most important nursing challenges is how to control anxiety and stress in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of nursing consultation and guided imagery-based training on the level of stress and anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: The participants in this clinical trial included 60 angiography candidates, admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of Ali-Ibn Abi-Taleb Hospital in Zahedan, southeast of Iran, in 2019. The participants were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: nursing consultation, guided imagery, and control groups. The instruments used to collect the data included a demographic information form and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale (DASS-21). The questionnaires were completed by the participants in all three groups on the day of hospitalization and one hour before angiography. A guided imagery audio file was played one day before angiography for each participant in the nursing consultation group for a maximum of two hours. On the other hand, the guided imagery group, besides receiving routine care, listened to the same audio file for 30 - 45 minutes. However, the participants in the control group only received routine hospital training. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS version 25, using statistical tests, such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey’s post hoc test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), paired samples t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and chi-square test at a significance level of less than 0.05 (P &lt; 0.05). Results: After controlling for the significant effect of pretest scores, the results of ANCOVA test showed significant differences between the two intervention groups in terms of the mean scores of anxiety and stress after the intervention (P &lt; 0.001). Also, the mean scores of anxiety and stress decreased in the guided imagery and nursing consultation groups as compared to the control group. However, the two interventions were not significantly different in reducing anxiety and stress among patients undergoing coronary angiography (P = 1). Conclusions: In this study, nursing consultation and guided imagery interventions led to a reduction in the stress and anxiety of patients undergoing angiography. Although the two interventions showed no significant difference in terms of effectiveness, they had positive effects on the mental health of angiography candidates. Therefore, these techniques can be employed by nurses, depending on their ease of use and conditions, to reduce stress and anxiety among angiography candidates.

Using hypnoanalysis and guided imagery to identify and manage emotional aspects of multiple sclerosis

BackgroundTo date, no studies have used hypnosis to examine and manage the potential emotional causes of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the scientific field; therefore, we decided to compare the effectiveness of hypnoanalysis and guided imagery for determining and manage these emotional causes. MethodsFifteen participants with severe MS were included and assigned into 2 groups: hypnoanalysis and guided imagery. In the hypnoanalysis group, the participants underwent 10 hypnotic sessions to understand events related to the cause of the disease, which were restructured (the events were modified by adding the psychological resources that each involved person needed); in addition, other techniques were used to investigate the causes and solutions according to the participants’ unconscious. The guided imagery group received 10 group sessions of body relaxation and guided imagery, which were recorded for practice at home. Outcome measures, namely, disability (the Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), quality of life (QoL, measured with the SF-36) and number of relapses, were evaluated 4 months previous the intervention, at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months later. ResultsHypnoanalysis revealed that stressful events and psychoemotional maladaptive patterns acted as causal, detonating, or aggravating factors of disease, and psychoemotional changes were the most frequent and varied solutions. No changes were observed in disability between the two groups. The guided imagery group showed an improvement in 2 subscales of QoL when compared with the hypnoanalysis group (which disappeared at the follow-up); this difference is probably due to the increased number of sessions and probably due to psychoemotional maladaptive patterns being more frequently mentioned than difficult circumstances in life and/or unsolved past events. However, the techniques used in hypnoanalysis were effective in understanding the potential emotional causes of MS, which showed high intra- and inter-participant consistency. ConclusionsThe daily use of guided imagery overcame the restructuring of negative past events to improve QoL in patients with MS. Trial registrationACTRN12618002024224 (retrospectively registered)

The effect of Reiki and guided imagery intervention on pain and fatigue in oncology patients: A non-randomized controlled study

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Reiki and guided imagery on pain and fatigue in oncology patients. This quasi-experimental study with a pretest and posttest design was conducted with 180 oncology patients at the oncology clinic of Dicle University Hospital in Turkey, between July 2017 and February 2018. The patients were divided into three groups: Reiki, guided imagery and control, with 60 patients in each group. The Reiki and guided imagery group patients underwent their respective interventions for three consecutive days separately (25–30 min; mean: 15.53 min). The interventions of Reiki and guided imagery reduced pain and fatigue in the oncology patients. It is recommended that oncology nurses use Reiki and guided imagery in patient care.

The Effect of EMDR Versus Guided Imagery on Insomnia Severity in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

This study compared the effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy versus guided imagery on insomnia severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this randomized controlled trial, 75 patients with RA were selected via convenience sampling before using block randomization to assign patients into three groups comprised of (a) six sessions of EMDR, (b) six sessions of guided imagery, and (c) a control group. The Persian version of the Insomnia Severity Index was implemented at preintervention and 2 weeks' postintervention as the outcome measure. The EMDR group obtained respective pre-and postintervention mean scores of 23.5 ± 5.2 and 11±2.1, whereas the guided imagery group obtained scores of 24 ± 3 and 15.3 ± 2.3, and the control group obtained scores of 24.2 ± 3.3 and 23.6 ± 3. Pairwise comparisons showed statistically significant differences in insomnia severity between patients from each group, with the EMDR group experiencing a greater reduction in insomnia severity than guided imagery. EMDR and guided imagery were both effective in reducing insomnia severity in RA patients, although the degree of insomnia reduction for patients from the EMDR group was greater than that of the guided imagery group.

Guided Imagery Council: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of a Novel Group-Based Lifestyle Intervention in Predominantly Latino Adolescents.

BackgroundThe combination of higher stress and higher obesity rates suggests that Latino youth in the United States may be a population at particular risk for obesity-related adverse health outcomes. The objective of this article is to describe the feasibility, acceptability, and quantitative stress-related outcomes of a 6-week pilot lifestyle intervention using guided imagery (GI) council in order to reduce risk factors for obesity-related disease.MethodsSeventeen urban, adolescents (12 females/5 males, 16 Latino, age 17 ± 1 years, grades 9–12, body mass index 22 ± 4) participated in the 6-week, after-school pilot intervention. The intervention consisted of three, 75-minute after-school sessions delivered weekly for 6 weeks. The 3 weekly sessions included 1 session each of nutrition education, physical activity education and practice, and GI delivered in council, a facilitated group process based on indigenous practices. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by attendance and qualitative exit interview. Stress outcomes included salivary cortisol and perceived stress.ResultsThe pilot intervention was found to be feasible to deliver in an after-school setting. The GI and council group format were well liked. A 31% reduction in salivary cortisol was observed following the stress-reduction GI sessions. Diurnal cortisol patterns did not change across the intervention, but change in perceived stress was correlated with change in cortisol awakening response.ConclusionsThe intervention was feasible to deliver and highly acceptable. Acute reduction in salivary cortisol was seen following group GI, while no change was seen in daily cortisol patterns. These results support the development of a full 12-week intervention using GI council to reduce obesity-related disease risk.

Comparison of the effect of video education and guided imagery on patient anxiety before endoscopy.

Background: Anxiety reduces the patient's tolerance and cooperation and increases the likelihood of complications during endoscopy. Including anxiety reduction strategies are patient education and guided imagery techniques. Considering the different results of studies on the effectiveness of education before endoscopy, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of video education and guided imagery on patients' anxiety before the endoscopy. Materials and methods: This single-blinded clinical trial was conducted at endoscopy unit of Vasei Hospital in Sabzevar, Iran. Patients as selected by convenience sampling randomized to three groups of video education, guided imagery and control. The data collection tools were demographic and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). Video-education group received a video clip and for the guided imagery group provided a guided imagery audio file. The control group received routine care. In the day of their endoscopy, their anxiety was reassessed both two to three hours before the procedure. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21 and one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, Fisher exact test, independent and paired t-test. The significance level in the statistical tests was 0.05. Results: There were statistically significant differences in mean pre- and post-intervention anxiety scores between the three groups (P-value<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in anxiety level in terms of the type of intervention used. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, two methods of video education and guided imagery were equally effective in reducing anxiety levels in patients before endoscopy.

Comparing the effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) with guided imagery on pain severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectivePrevious studies reported the reduction of pain following eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and guided imagery; however, the effectiveness of these modalities was not compared. The current study aimed to compare the effects of EMDR and guided imagery on pain severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Material and methodsIn this randomized controlled trial, 75 patients were selected using non-random method, and then allocated into two intervention groups and one control group. Interventions were conducted individually in six consecutive sessions for the intervention groups. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Scale was used for data collection before and after the interventions. Collected data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS. Significance level was considered at P<0.05.ResultsThe post-intervention mean scores of physiological, affective, sensory-discriminative, and cognitive pain sub-scales for patients in guided imagery group were 16.3±2.2, 13.9±2.2, 30.6±3.4, and 23.2±3, respectively. The post-intervention mean scores of these sub-scales in the EMDR group were 22±1.5, 18.1±1.8, 39.6±2.8, and 29±1.8, respectively. A significant difference was observed in the mean pain score between EMDR and guided imagery groups, and also between each intervention group and the control group (P=0.001).ConclusionGuided imagery and EMDR could reduce pain in rheumatoid arthritis, but pain reduction was more following the EMDR than guided imagery.

Investigating guided imagery on depression in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Background: Diabetes is one of the major health problems and one of the most prevalent metabolic chronic diseases and its resulting complications are one of the main mortality factors in the world. Prevalence of depression in this disease is 3 times than other chronic diseases. Thus, its diagnosis and treatment is crucial. Aims and Objectives: The current study was conducted aiming at investigating guided imagery on depression in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 76 patients referring to diabetes center of Sabzevar city in 2015. Participants competed Beck depression test, and in case of gaining score 14–28 (mild and moderate depression), final approval of depression was done by the clinical psychologist. Then, following completion of the consent form, the patients were divided into guided imagery group (n = 36) and control group (n = 40) randomly. Imagery was done twice weekly for 20–30 min under supervision of the researcher within 6 weeks, and Beck depression test was again completed at the end of 6th week. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way variance analysis in SPSS (Version 16) Software, and P as 0.05 was considered as significance level. Result: Mean depression scale after intervention in guided imagery group reached to 12.41 ± 2.84 from 19.05 ± 4.26, and it reached to 19.99 ± 3.61 from 20.60 ± 4.21 in control group. Independent t-test showed no significant statistical difference between two groups in terms of depression score before intervention (P = 0.117), while there was significant statistical difference between two groups in terms of depression score after intervention (P < 0.001). Pairwise statistical t-test showed significant statistical difference in terms of depression score before and after intervention in guided imagery (P < 0.001). While there was no significant difference statistically in control group (P = 0.204). Conclusion: According to results of the present study, guided imagery is an effective approach to reduce depression in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Pre-operative guided imagery in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery: a randomized trial.

The purpose was to determine if pre-operative guided imagery (GIM) would help women to feel more prepared, less anxious, and have higher satisfaction scores 6weeks after surgery compared with routine care. Eligible women planning to undergo pelvic floor surgery were enrolled and randomized. The GIM group received an institution-specific CD that uses GIM to detail day of surgery (DOS) events and expectations. Participants were asked to listen to the CD once daily during the week before surgery. At three time points (surgical consent visit, DOS, and 6-weeks post-operatively), we measured anxiety using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STADI), in addition to preparedness for surgery and overall satisfaction (ten-point Likert scales). Data were analyzed in SPSS 23 using two-tailed t tests. A total of 38 out of 44 (86%) enrolled participants completed the study (GIM: 18, control: 20). The GIM self-reported compliance rate was 72%, with an average use of 4.8 times (range=3-8 times). Women in the GIM group reported a significant increase from baseline in preparedness for surgery on both DOS and 6weeks post-operatively (7.32±1.81 vs 9.11±1.13, p=0.001) and (7.32±1.81 vs 9.22±0.81, p=0.001) respectively; a change that was not seen in the control group. Satisfaction was high in both the GIM and the control group (9.55±0.85 and 9.05±1.70, p=0.263). In all patients, anxiety increased from baseline to DOS and dropped at 6weeks post-operatively, and was not significantly different in the two groups. Guided imagery improved patient preparedness for pelvic floor surgery with an overnight stay on their DOS and 6weeks post-operatively.

Managing pain and fatigue in people with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial feasibility study examining the efficacy of massage therapy

A randomized controlled trial (RCT). To determine the efficacy of massage therapy (MT) as a treatment that could be implemented to reduce pain and fatigue in people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Laboratory setting in Sydney, Australia. Participants included 40 people with SCI living in the community who were randomly assigned into one of two RCT arms: MT (Swedish massage to upper body) or an active concurrent control (guided imagery (GI) relaxation). All participants received 30 min once a week of either massage or GI over 5 consecutive weeks. In addition to sociodemographic and injury factors, assessments and reliable measures including the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Chalder's Fatigue Scale were validated. Chronic pain and fatigue were significantly reduced in the massage group when assessed at the end of 5 weeks (P<0.05), with large effect sizes. Interestingly, GI was as effective as MT in reducing pain and fatigue. Pain scores were reduced significantly over time in both MT and GI groups (P=0.049 and P=0.032, respectively). Total fatigue scores were also reduced in both MT and GI groups (P=0004 and P=0.037, respectively.)Conclusions:Massage and GI are both active treatments that provide potential clinical benefits for adults with SCI. Future research should clarify the role of massage and GI in managing pain and fatigue in SCI and assess outcomes into the longer-term.

Guided Imagery for Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

To determine the effect of guided imagery (GI) on functional outcomes of total knee replacement (TKR), explore psychological and neuroimmune mediators, and assess feasibility of study implementation. Investigator-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. Hospital, surgeon's office, participant's home. 82 persons undergoing TKR. Audiorecordings of TKR-specific GI scripts or placebo-control audiorecordings of audiobook segments. Gait velocity and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) Function scale. Outcomes for 58 participants (29 receiving GI and 29 controls) were analyzed at 6 months after surgery. The most frequent reason for noncompletion was protocol-driven exclusion at 6 months for having the contralateral knee replaced before the study endpoint (n = 15). With imaging ability as a moderator, gait velocity, but not WOMAC Function score, was significantly improved at 6 months in the GI group. Participants in the GI group, but not the control group, had lower WOMAC Pain scores at 3 weeks after surgery than at baseline. Hair cortisol concentration was significantly lower at 6 months after surgery than at baseline in the GI group but not the control group. GI group participants had lower treatment adherence but greater treatment credibility than the control group. Randomized controlled trials of GI in the TKR population are feasible, but inclusion/exclusion criteria influence attrition. Further studies are needed to elaborate this study's findings, which suggest that guided imagery improves objective, but not patient-reported, outcomes of TKR. Hair cortisol concentration results suggest that engagement in a time-limited guided imagery intervention may contribute to stress reduction even after the intervention is terminated. Further investigation into optimal content and dosing of GI is needed.

Perceptions of Guided Imagery for Stress Management in Pregnant African American Women

Maternal stress during pregnancy has been associated with numerous adverse pregnancy, birth, and health outcomes. Pregnant African American women have been reported to have higher levels of stress compared to other ethnic or racial groups underscoring the need for effective interventions to reduce stress in this population. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of guided imagery (GI) as a technique for stress management in a cohort of pregnant African American women who participated in a GI intervention as part of a larger mixed methods randomized controlled trial. The 12week intervention was a professionally recorded compact disc with four tracks developed and sequenced to reduce stress and associated symptoms. The findings from this descriptive phenomenologic study were derived from daily logs and interviews from 36 participants randomized to the GI group. Participants described the stressful nature of their lives. Results demonstrated pregnant African American women perceived the intervention as beneficial in reducing stress and the associated symptoms. The emergent themes suggested the intervention offered a respite from their stressful lives, reduced the negative emotional responses to stress and enhanced well-being, benefited other areas of their daily life, and provided an opportunity to connect with their baby. The study results support the perceived efficacy of GI as a stress coping intervention. GI is an economic as well as easy to implement, access and use technique that has potential stress coping benefits as perceived by pregnant African American women.