Relaxation Sessions Research Articles

On the effectiveness of virtual reality technology for relaxation of locomotive crew workers

Reducing the risks of occupational stress requires improving the methods of psychological support for employees of locomotive crews. Virtual reality technology offers restorative measures comparable to traditional techniques. The study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the impact of virtual reality technology on the basis of the analysis of the psycho-emotional state of employees of locomotive crews before and after rehabilitation measures; to evaluate the ratio of stress biomarkers before and after exposure to classical and technical techniques; to compare the effectiveness of psychological influence carried out by various methods. The scientists conducted a survey and diagnosis of the functional state of locomotive crew workers, followed by rehabilitation measures using various methods. The specialists performed a saliva analysis based on the concentration levels of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone. 120 people took part in the study, of which: 60 people according to the classical program and 60 people according to the virtual reality program, of which 15 people are at risk according to psychophysiological indicators. The session lasted 21 minutes. The average age of employees of locomotive crews participating in the study was 35.4 years. 88% of the subjects underwent functional state diagnostics and a full course of relaxation sessions in virtual reality. Of these, 73% have improved psychophysiological indicators: response accuracy, increased neuropsychiatric stability, and decreased anxiety levels. The authors noted calmness, improved mood and relief of muscle tension. 60% of the employees have completed a full course of rehabilitation measures using classical techniques. Of these, 70% have an improvement in their functional state according to certain parameters. There is a decrease in cortisol levels (unit of measurement — nanograms per milliliter) from 6.75 ng/ml to 6.28 ng/ml with a simultaneous increase in dehydroepiadrosterone levels (unit of measurement — micrograms per milliliter) from 0.53 mcg/100 ml to 1.77 mcg/100 ml, which corresponds to a decrease in the overall stress level. The analysis of the obtained results showed sufficient effectiveness of virtual methods comparable to classical approaches to relaxation. Immersive technologies more effectively activate natural compensatory mechanisms by expanding the individual regulatory capabilities of the nervous system. Scientists have identified areas for improving the latest methods of rehabilitation measures in order to correct the functional condition of locomotive crews. Limitations. The representativeness of the sample was ensured by the participation of 120 employees of locomotive crews in the study. The limitations are related to the gender homogeneity of the sample: only men are included, due to their professional status. Ethics. The study was performed in accordance with the rules of good clinical practice and the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association, the conclusion of the ethics committee was not required.

Use of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Orofacial Pain: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review on the use of hypnosis in the treatment of orofacial pain. Methods: The search was performed on February 2021 and updated in July 2024 in the following databases: MEDLINE via PUBMED, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Clinical Trials, ISRCTN Registry, Psycinfo, Open Grey, Google Scholar, and Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD). The descriptors referring to Orofacial Pain and hypnosis were used to select clinical trials on the use of hypnosis in the treatment of Orofacial Pain, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian, without restriction on date and place of publication. In a first stage, two independent, trained, and calibrated reviewers classified the abstracts and then the full texts. The data were extracted, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Results: Of the 642 references identified, 6 studies-published between 1986 and 2010-were included in the review, with 232 patients reported. Hypnosis was mainly used in cases of chronic pain associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), compared with relaxation sessions, acupuncture, occlusal splint, minimal treatment, or no interference. Hypnotherapy was applied in different ways, either exclusively by professionals or by means of self-hypnosis in a complementary or exclusive manner. All studies showed statistical significance for the effect of the intervention (hypnotherapy). The overall RoB2 consisted of three studies with high risk of bias and three studies with some concern. Conclusions: Although there were clinical studies on the subject and they had methodological flaws, hypnotherapy (induction and/or self-hypnosis) appears to be a promising strategy for the treatment of orofacial pain, especially TMDs. There is, therefore, a need for new randomized clinical studies with adequate methodological standards to confirm the findings.

Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy program in stroke patients in the Republic of Korea: a mixed-methods study.

This study aimed to explore the effects of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program on stroke patients, as well as their experiences participating in the program. This study employed a mixed-methods design, integrating qualitative case studies with quantitative analysis. We included 20 stroke patients, randomly divided into 2 groups of 10 each: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group underwent a CBT program comprising 20 sessions, in addition to receiving general occupational therapy. Conversely, the control group participated in meditation relaxation sessions alongside their general occupational therapy. Both interventions were administered daily for 60 minutes, 5 days a week, over a 4-week period. After the intervention, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and rehabilitation motivation (p<0.01, p<0.05). In contrast, the control group only demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety (p<0.05). A comparison of the changes between the 2 groups showed significant differences in depression and anxiety (p<0.01), but no significant differences in self-efficacy and rehabilitation motivation (p>0.05). In-depth interviews with 10 participants from the experimental group were conducted and analyzed, revealing 4 core themes: "psychological stability," "physical symptom relief," "altered daily routines," and "challenges and hopes for change." The findings of this study suggest that CBT programs may serve as a valuable intervention, offering psychological support and rehabilitation for stroke patients.

Therapeutic aid to improve sleep

At a medical-psychological center, a therapeutic program based on relaxation and mindfulness meditation sessions is offered to people suffering from chronic insomnia referred by the center's psychiatrists, psychologists and advanced practice nurse. This treatment, which can be complementary to ongoing medication, is an alternative to pharmacological approaches.

A multi-objective optimization framework for determining optimal chemotherapy dosing and treatment duration

Traditional randomized clinical trials are regarded as the gold standard for assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy. However, this procedure has drawbacks such as high cost, time consumption, and limited patient exploration of treatment regimens. We develop a multi-objective optimization-based framework to address these limitations and determine the best chemotherapy dosing and treatment duration. The proposed framework uses patient-specific biological parameters to create a mathematical model of cell population dynamics in the patient’s body. The framework employs evolutionary heuristic search methods (simulated annealing and genetic algorithms) and a prescriptive analytics approach to optimize therapy sessions that transition from treatment to relaxation. We carefully adjust the chemotherapy dose during treatment to reduce tumor cells while preserving host cells (such as effector-immune cells). We strategically time the relaxation sessions to aid recovery, considering the ability of tumors and healthy cells to regenerate. We use a combined optimization method to determine the length of the session and the amount of drug to be administered. We compare quadratic and linear optimal control solvers for drug administration while genetic algorithms and simulated annealing are used to optimize session length. This approach is especially important in limited healthcare resources, ensuring efficient allocation while accurately identifying high-risk patients to optimize resource allocation and utilization.

Virtual Reality Relaxation for Mental Health Service Users with Complex Care Needs: a Pilot Study in Residential Care Homes and Supported Accommodation

AbstractVirtual reality (VR) relaxation is a promising, novel intervention for service users with a range of mental health conditions and has potential wellbeing benefits such as promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety. Less is known about the implementation of VR relaxation for service users in complex care mental health services. This study aimed to investigate implementation of a single session of VR relaxation for service users in residential care homes and supported accommodation, who were supported by a South London community team. Participants could explore relaxing, natural environments in VR. Pre- and post-VR visual analogue scales of mood, immersiveness, helpfulness, narrative feedback and clinician reflections were recorded. Participants (N = 20) had psychotic disorders and other serious mental health conditions. Post-VR, there were significant increases in relaxation (large effect), happiness and connectedness to nature (both medium effects), and decreases in anxiety and sadness (both medium effects). Stress was low at baseline and there was no significant effect post-VR. Helpfulness and immersion scores were high (both &gt; 8). Participants reported the intervention was very relaxing, exciting, uplifting and were enthusiastic about engaging in more VR relaxation and further psychological interventions, including therapy and other digital interventions. Participants reported finding a session facilitator helpful. Technical issues were minor and resolved by the facilitator. Findings indicate scope to widen access to VR relaxation within complex care services. More facilitators could offer multiple sessions to larger, more diverse groups of service users. Future research with more robust methodologies is needed to test effectiveness and longer-term impact.

Virtual Reality Relaxation for Stress in Young Adults: A Remotely Delivered Pilot Study in Participants’ Homes

AbstractHigh stress levels experienced by young adults were exacerbated by COVID-19 and traditional stress management techniques can be challenging. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation appears promising and is accessible remotely; however, research on young adults is limited, especially in naturalistic settings. This remotely delivered and controlled mixed-methods study investigated feasibility and acceptability of VR relaxation for young adults (N = 23, mean age = 22.96) at home during the pandemic. VR participants (N = 11) were asked to complete daily VR relaxation sessions (scenes of virtual beaches, mountains, the sea, and more) for a 14-day intervention period, alongside visual analogue scales (VAS) of psychological well-being pre- and post-VR sessions. Post-intervention, VR participants completed semi-structured interviews. Control participants (N = 12) received no intervention. Both groups completed outcome measures of psychological well-being pre- and post-intervention periods to evaluate feasibility of remote data collection. VAS results indicated acceptability of daily VR, with significant short-term increases in relaxation, happiness, and connectedness to nature, and decreases in stress, anxiety, and sadness within VR participants. VR usage and 100% completion of outcome measures indicated feasibility of VR relaxation and remote data collection. Qualitative findings suggest participants found the VR relaxing, but interest diminished over time and technical issues hindered user experience. This suggests a more informal, less prescriptive frequency of VR use may be more appealing for young adults, although adherence may relate to technical issues. Greater interactivity and remote technical assistance within VR could increase engagement. Future research should investigate optimal frequency of use, longer-term impact, and technical issues with a larger sample.

The Influence of Autogenic Relaxation in Lowering Stress and Blood Sugar Levels in Clients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Stress is identified as one of the modifiable risk factors for diabetes mellitus. High stress levels can trigger an increase in blood sugar levels. There are four approaches to controlling blood sugar levels: pharmacological therapy, nutritional therapy, physical activity, and education on self-management of diabetes, such as implementing autogenic relaxation therapy. Autogenic relaxation is a form of mind-body intervention that originates from within an individual, involving short phrases or sentences that promote a sense of tranquility. The aim of this research is to examine the influence of autogenic relaxation in reducing stress levels in clients with Type II diabetes mellitus. Methods: The research design employed is a quasi-experiment with a group control and pre-post-test. The intervention group received autogenic relaxation sessions lasting 15-20 minutes, six times with a one-day interval between sessions. The control group was observed without any intervention. Results: The results revealed a significant difference between the intervention and control groups for the variables of stress (p-value 0.000) and blood sugar (p-value 0.008). Conclusion: The analysis indicates that autogenic relaxation therapy can effectively reduce stress and blood sugar levels in Type II diabetes mellitus clients. We recommend that healthcare services implement autogenic relaxation therapy programs to assist clients with Type II diabetes mellitus in addressing stress-related issues and managing their blood sugar levels

Effect of online Kundalini Yoga mental health of university students during Covid-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial.

University students were at an increased risk for psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a randomized controlled trial, we examined the efficacy of an online Kundalini Yoga intervention on students' psychological functioning. Healthy university students (N = 106) were randomly assigned to a Kundalini Yoga group, an active control group, or a passive control group in a 1:1:1 ratio. The experimental group attended six Yoga sessions over 6 weeks and the active control group attended to six autogenic relaxation sessions over 6 weeks. All participants completed the study protocol, which involved answering questionnaires related to psychological distress, emotion regulation, self-compassion, self-concept, spiritual well-being, and subjective happiness at three different time points: baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. Results showed that Yoga contributed to improving self-compassion, extrinsic affect improving, and personal and communal spiritual well-being, in comparison to the control groups.

Determining the risk of maladaptation using an electroencephalogram to prevent mental strain

To identify criteria for electroencephalogram (EEG) synchronization in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibiting high levels of functional stress and signs of maladaptation. Two groups of male subjects aged 23-38 years were examined: a group of subjects receiving therapy for PTSD at a medical center; and a group of healthy subjects who regularly practiced psychophysical relaxation sessions. EEG, an innovative method for analyzing brain synchronizing currents, and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. Criteria for the formation of patterns of synchronization of neural networks were found in subjects of the therapy group, who have a high level of psychofunctional stress and signs of maladaptation against the background of PTSD in combination with severe anxiety and impaired cognitive abilities. Alpha wave synchronization analysis can be used to more accurately diagnose the level of psychofunctional stress in individuals at risk of developing psychophysical disorders. The results of the work suggest the use of technologies that increase the ability to synchronize brain biocurrents to develop programs for correcting psychophysical status, such as relaxation exercises.

Does a Short Relaxation Session Affect Inhibitory Control of the Stroop task in adolescents?

Does a Short Relaxation Session Affect Inhibitory Control of the Stroop task in adolescents?

P86: Effect of Virtual Reality on Stress Reduction and Change of Physiological Parameters Including Heart Rate Variability in People With High Stress: An Open Randomized Crossover Trial

Introduction:Although, attempts to apply virtual reality (VR) in mental healthcare are rapidly increasing, it is still unclear whether VR relaxation can reduce stress more than conventional biofeedback.Methods:Participants consisted of 83 healthy adult volunteers with high stress, which was defined as a score of 20 or more on the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). This study used an open, randomized, crossover design with baseline, stress, and relaxation phases. During the stress phase, participants experienced an intentionally generated shaking VR and serial-7 subtraction. For the relaxation phase, participants underwent a randomly assigned relaxation session on day 1 among VR relaxation and biofeedack, and the other type of relaxation session was applied on day 2. We compared the StateTrait Anxiety Inventory-X1 (STAI-X1), STAI-X2, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and physiological parameters including heart rate variability (HRV) indexes in the stress and relaxation phases.Results:A total of 74 participants were included in the analyses. The median age of participants was 39 years, STAI-X1 was 47.27 (SD = 9.92), and NRS was 55.51 (SD = 24.48) at baseline. VR and biofeedback significantly decreased STAI-X1 and NRS from the stress phase to the relaxation phase, while the difference of effect between VR and biofeedback was not significant. However, there was a significant difference in electromyography, LF/HF ratio, LF total, and NN50 between VR relaxation and biofeedbackConclusion:VR relaxation was effective in reducing subjectively reported stress in individuals with high stress.

Domestic Environment of Multisensory Stimulation based on Snoezelen principles pilot study

AbstractBackgroundMultisensory stimulation (MSS) aims to stimulate the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, vestibular and proprioceptive systems that may be areas affected by dementia. The 24‐hour Snoezelen spaces in home environments aim to offer a proposed MSS intervention for seniors with dementia syndromes. In addition, studies on this therapy, its benefits and effects both for the elderly living in the community and for their caregivers/family members, are scarce.ObjectiveTo understand and evaluate the benefits of Snoezelen sensory stimulation in home settings of community‐dwelling elderly.Materials and MethodsThe 24‐hour Snoezelen intervention will be conducted over three/four months, in 9 sessions. The sessions will be organized in stages: The 1st stage, involves the evaluation process, performed in the 1st week, which will consist of two evaluation sessions that include home assessment, establishment of sensory preferences and sensory profile of the elderly. The 2nd stage will be carried out from the 2nd to the 5th week with the implementation of the 24‐hour Snoezelen sessions that aim to teach caregivers how to use the Snoezelen space with two focuses: stimulation and relaxation. The initial session will be determined by the demands presented by the caregiver and the elderly regarding the need to start with a relaxation or stimulation session. The third stage involves the follow‐up of the implementation of the post‐training sessions for caregivers that will be developed from the 6th to the 9th week with 3 sessions. The interval between the 3 sessions will be 15 days so that the caregivers can practice what they have learned during the training. To analyze the impact of the Home Spaces of MRE the effect size will be used considering the averages in the NPI before and after the Intervention. Measures of variance will be applied to evaluate the impact of MRE home stimulation in relation to time (pre‐ and post‐intervention). The degree of significance was set to values of p&lt;0.05Result: And ConclusionThe study in question is in progress and the results and conclusion will be presented at the congress.

Smelling an odor present during PMR does not impact heart rate during a stressful cognitive task

AbstractPrevious research on the impact of odors on current emotional state has been mixed, with some studies finding odors can induce feelings of relaxation while others have not. The aim of Part 1 of the current study was to investigate whether a feeling of relaxation, measured by a self‐report positive and negative affect scale and heart rate (HR), could be associated with an odor after completing three supervised sessions of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) training while wearing an odorized nasal clip. Although the Part 1 results revealed no differences in positive or negative affect or HR between participants who wore an odorized or non‐odorized nasal clip, the PMR training was effective in reducing HR and negative affect overall. The aim of Part 2 was to determine whether the PMR training sessions in Part 1, could help reduce an objective measure of stress (i.e., HR) during four conditions of a cognitively stressful task, with and without an odorized nasal clip. The results for Part 2 revealed there were no differences in HR between participants who trained with odorized or non‐odorized nasal clips in any of the four conditions. However, given no explicit tests of learned odor‐PMR associations were performed, the lack of group differences may be due to various reasons, including a reduction in any learned association before testing Part 2. In summary and contrary to the hypothesis, participants who completed PMR training with an odorized nasal clip did not demonstrate a lower HR during a stressful cognitive task while wearing the odorized nasal clip, compared to those who wore a non‐odorized nasal clip during PMR training. Future research on the association between odors and relaxation may benefit from adapting the training protocol to include more frequent or longer associations between the behavior and the odor.Practical ApplicationThe findings provide preliminary evidence that wearing an odorized nasal clip during light activities such as progressive muscle relaxation is tolerated well but further research exploring whether this pairing leads to feelings of relaxation when odors are presented alone is warranted.

Toward Burnout Prevention: Can One Short Virtual Reality Relaxation and Mindfulness Training Session for Staff and Patients Decrease Stress and Improve Subjective Sense of Wellbeing?

Mental wellness of healthcare workers has deteriorated recently, increasing burnout rates. Cancer patients are also often highly distressed, reporting fear, pain, and fatigue. Relaxation and mindfulness training have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety. Currently, the use of virtual reality (VR) for relaxation and mindfulness for cancer patients and oncology clinical staff is an ongoing area of research. We aimed to test the preliminary efficacy of incorporating an innovative digital therapeutic (DTx) we developed at our center in this population. Cancer patients and clinic staff from one institution's Gastrointestinal and Radiation Oncology departments participated in the immersive VR-enhanced relaxation and mindfulness experience for this IRB-exempt study. Users completed a pre-VR survey via iPad assessing baseline knowledge and practice of stress reduction techniques, baseline stress, and familiarity with VR. In the VR app deployed on an Oculus Quest 2, users chose a relaxing water scene (e.g., stream, beach) and optional soothing background music. Users could also choose a relaxation or mindfulness training audio track. A post-VR survey assessed whether the experience affected their subjective stress and sense of wellbeing ("Yes" or "No") as well as the feasibility of using the app. A binomial test on a single proportion was used to test whether more participants (>50%) indicated their stress was reduced following the VR training than did not. Post-VR qualitative verbal feedback was also collected to identify future changes to the VR app. Six patients, a patient's son, and forty-three employees used the VR app. Users were aged ≤ 30 years old (18%), 30-50 years (60%), and 50-70 years (22%). Users completed the VR experience in a median of 14 min (IQR: 11-19 min). In the pre-survey, most (78%) reported they felt stress at this point in their lives. In the post-survey, significantly more than the expected proportion of participants (>50%) reported feeling less stressed after using the VR app (88%, n = 44, p <0.001). Most (90%) reported that the VR app improved their subjective sense of wellbeing. All (100%) users reported it was easy to learn the VR controls. Nearly all (96%) reported they would be interested in using this VR app again, including 30% and 38% who reported they would be "extremely likely" and "very likely," respectively, to use the app again. These findings suggest our VR relaxation and mindfulness training was well accepted and could be integrated into the hospital setting in short sessions. Further work should be done based on participant feedback to expand the offerings of this VR app to offer a wider range of relaxation experiences and gamified psychological interventions that can help de-stress, recharge, and build resiliency.

Integrating a virtual reality relaxation clinic within acute psychiatric services: A pilot study

People with acute psychiatric conditions experience heightened stress, which is associated with worsened symptoms and increased violence on psychiatric wards. Traditional stress management techniques can be challenging for patients. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation appears promising to reduce stress; however, research on VR for psychiatric wards is limited. This mixed-methods study investigated feasibility and acceptability of integrating a VR relaxation clinic within acute psychiatric services. The study evaluated a VR relaxation session for inpatients and outpatients with acute psychiatric conditions (N = 42) and therapists’ (N = 6) experience facilitating VR sessions for patients. Self-report assessments of psychological wellbeing were completed by patients pre- and post-VR. Patients and therapists provided qualitative feedback. The number of violent incidents and restrictive practices on the wards in the 12 weeks before VR implementation was compared to the first 12 weeks of VR. Post-VR, there were statistically significant increases in patients’ relaxation, happiness, and connectedness to nature, and decreases in stress, anxiety, and sadness. Qualitative findings indicate patients found sessions enjoyable, relaxing, and helpful. Therapists provided positive feedback but highlighted practical challenges. Violent incidents and restrictive practices halved during VR implementation. VR relaxation appears feasible and acceptable in acute services. Larger studies should evaluate potential impact on psychiatric wards.

Virtual Reality Relaxation for Staff Wellbeing on a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Ward: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study

Aim: Mental health staff, particularly those delivering inpatient services, may experience poor wellbeing due to time-pressured, stressful work. Existing staff wellbeing interventions are limited, so there is a need for novel, accessible support. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation has potential to support wellbeing; this study aimed to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of VR relaxation for staff on a psychiatric rehabilitation ward. Method: Ward staff were offered a single session of VR relaxation. Wearing a VR head-mounted display, participants could explore immersive, relaxing, virtual environments of natural scenery. Feasibility was measured by assessing completion rate of session components, time spent in VR, and number of environments accessed. Acceptability was measured by comparing pre- and post-VR visual analogue scales (VAS), from 0 ('not at all') to 10 ('very'), of relaxation, stress, anxiety, sadness, happiness, and connectedness to nature; by reporting post-VR immersion and helpfulness VAS, and post-session narrative feedback. Results: Participants (N = 14) were mostly female; half were nurses and others were from various professions. Post-VR, there were significant increases in relaxation, connectedness to nature (both large effects) and happiness (medium effect); there were also significant decreases in stress, anxiety (both large effects) and sadness (small effect). Immersion and helpfulness ratings were both &gt;7. Participants reported that the VR was relaxing, a positive distraction from work-related stress, they liked the interactive elements, and were keen to receive more regular sessions. Conclusion: VR relaxation appears feasible and acceptable to support staff wellbeing on psychiatric wards and there is potential for wider implementation.

Cocaine Effects without Cocaine: Increasing Happiness with Self-Regulation Therapy in a Single Session

The psychological reproduction of cocaine’s ability to increase happiness was studied. The first part of this study consisted of building and validating an instrument to measure the stable and transient aspects of happiness via the 10-item Happiness Trait–State Scale (10 HTSS) in a sample of volunteers (N = 128). In the second part, Self-Regulation Therapy (SRT, a procedure based on suggestion and classic conditioning) was applied to all the participants to increase their relaxation during a single session. The relaxation session slightly increased happiness. A subgroup of participants who were cocaine users (N = 33) took part in a second session to reproduce the stimulant and euphoric cocaine effects. That was a “mental” reproduction session to simulate the effects of cocaine. For both conditions, all the participants filled in the 10 HTSS at the beginning and the end of the session to compare scores and to prove if the happiness state increased. For the cocaine condition, happiness markedly increased, especially in comparison to the increase during the relaxation session, for both the total group and the cocaine users group. Although this increase was achieved during a single session, similar previous studies with more continuous training and monitoring suggest that improvement in emotions can be durable and long term.

OUT to IN: a body-oriented intervention program to promote preschoolers' self-regulation and relationship skills in the outdoors.

Time for movement and outdoor experiences has decreased in children's daily lives. Nevertheless, a growing body of research has shown that body-oriented interventions and outdoor time benefit preschoolers' social-emotional development, a foundation for mental health. OUT to IN is a body-oriented intervention program implemented outdoors, designed to promote preschoolers' social-emotional competence. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of OUT to IN on preschoolers' self-regulation and relationship skills. A cluster randomized trial with multi-method and multi-informant assessment was implemented including 233 children between 3 and 6 years (122 boys, Mage = 5.07 years), from 4 preschools (8 groups with OUT to IN intervention, 4 groups without intervention - control group). The 153 children allocated to the OUT to IN group participated in biweekly sessions for 10 weeks. OUT to IN sessions followed a body-oriented approach comprising exercise play, relaxation, and symbolization activities, implemented outdoors by a psychomotor therapist and the preschool teacher. Sessions enabled children to feel, observe and control their bodily states and understand the relationship between their bodies and emotions. Teachers participated in a brief course and on 20 biweekly relaxation sessions. Children's self-regulation was measured through specific tasks and a parent questionnaire. Relationship skills (i.e., empathy, communication, cooperation and sociability) were measured through parents' and preschool teachers' questionnaires. Mann-Whitney test was used to study differences at baseline between the OUT to IN group and the control group, and to study differences in the 10-week changes between both groups. Wilcoxon Test was used for intragroup comparisons. After the 10-week intervention period, children who participated in OUT to IN showed significant improvements on self-regulation and relationship skills (empathy, cooperation and sociability), in comparison to the control group who did not show any significant improvements. Large size effects (η2 > 0.14) were found for most of the variables related to self-regulation and small (η2 > 0.01), medium (η2 > 0.06) and large size effects (η2 > 0.14) were found for the variables related to relationship skills. OUT to IN showed to be an effective body-oriented intervention program in improving children's self-regulation and relationship skills, which are recognized foundations for mental health and well-being.

Evaluating most relaxing Audio Accompaniment for Post-Workout Relaxation

This research article aimed to evaluate the most relaxing audio accompaniment for post-workout relaxation. The study involved ten relaxation sessions with different musical accompaniments, and five participants rated their experiences on a relaxation scale, ranging from 1 (not at all relaxing) to 5 (completely relaxed and blissful). The sessions included nature sounds, musical instruments, vocalizations, and silence. The results showed varying responses among the participants (1.8 to 4.6 out of 5), indicating the influence of audio accompaniment on relaxation. The sounds of waterfall (3/5), beach campfire (2.8/5), the piano (3/5), vocalise (3.2/5) and the forest (3.2/5) were average and not fully relaxing, while singing bowls (4.2/5) and Koshi chimes (4.4/5) received highly positive responses. The harp received above average ratings (3.6/5), while silence presented challenges (2.8/5) for some participants; interestingly, session of silence had positive rating post 2 hours of the session. The wind session was the least relaxing (1.8/5), causing anxiety and discomfort. These ratings, collected immediately after the session, were similar to ratings collected after two hours of session confirming consistency of result and post impact. The study had recognized its limitation of the subjectivity of individual experiences and the impact of participants' initial states. Though other sounds suggested during the sessions also had a beneficial effect, the marked effects of wind chimes and singing bowls were highlighted in the study indicating its potential in relaxation. The research suggests incorporating these instruments into regular relaxation routines for enhanced well-being.