Date of Award

2-1-1989

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract

The current research was designed to compare effectiveness of two widely used stress reduction methods, Progressive Relaxation Training (PRT) and Stress Inoculation Training (SIT). The entire Fall 1987, freshman class of Creighton University School of Dentistry participated (N =.68). Fifty-eight Subjects completed the project. Students were randomly assigned to a treatment, PRT (N = 12) or SIT (N = 17), or to one of two control groups, placebo (N = 13), or no treatment (N = 16). The placebo consisted of a once-only lecture on theory of stress. All subjects were measured for stress related components using paper and pencil instruments. The Back Depression Inventory (BDI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI State and STAI Trait), Stimulus Response Inventory of Anxiousness (SRA) Life Experiences Survey (LES) and Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) were administered during the first week of classes, just prior to treatment and again later in the Fall, after treatment were completed. These instruments were administered a third time in February, three weeks after Spring semester began. At posttreatment, Subjects participating in PRT and SIT were also asked to complete the Therapist and Therapy Rating Scale. This measure was taken in order to control for treatment bias on the part of the therapist.The use of the STAI in this research provided the opportunity to examine two newly proposed subscales for that instrument for preliminary validation. The subscales, Cognitive and Non-Cognitive (Tyler and Wagner, 1987), might be differentially sensitive to treatment.Multivariate analyses of variance revealed no difference between groups on any measure prior to treatment. All groups were slightly state anxious at the beginning of the project. Increases in state anxiety and depression occurred for all groups immediately following treatment, independent of group membership. No treatment effects emerged. Posttreatment levels of state anxiety and depression were maintained at follow-up. While Subjects in the two active treatment groups indicated that they had similar perceptions of the treatment they received, they produced differential ratings for the therapist. No difference was found for Cognitive and Non-Cognitive scores on the STAI. The implications of these outcomes are discussed.

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