Effectiveness of Pranayama for reducing stress among adolescents (12-17 years) of selected high schools at Mangalore

 

Mrs. Smitha K.V.*

Associate Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing, AKG Memorial Cooperative College of Nursing Kannur, Kerala, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

A Quantitative approach, experimental study with pre-test post- test control group design was chosen for the study. The study was conducted in selected high school of Mangalore, Karnataka, India. 60 adolescents in the age group of 12-17 years with moderate to severe stress were selected using non probability convenience sampling technique. An Adolescents stress rating scale (5 Point scale with 41 items) was used to assess the severity of stress among adolescent. Results: In the experimental group, 90% of sample had moderate stress in the pre-test, where as in the post-test 76.7% of them had moderate stress. In the control group 93.3% of the sample had moderate stress and it was same in the post- test. In the experimental group the mean post-test score (61.07+/-16.57) were less than that of the mean pre-test stress score (78.31+/-17.93); where as in the control group, the mean post-test stress score (73.67+/-16.93) was almost similar to the mean pre-test stress score (74.37+/-17.43), which suggest that stress score was consistent in the control group. There was a significant difference in stress scores before and after pranayama in the experimental group (t₂₉₌17.24, p<0.05) as well as comparison of stress score of experimental Group with the control group (t₅₈=2.914, p <0.05). This suggests that pranayama was effective in reducing stress. The mean post-test stress score of adolescents in the different areas of stress like biophysical, psychological and social changes were significantly lower than their mean pre-test stress score (t₂₉=9.342, t₂₉ =8.017, t₂₉=10.678; p<0.05 respectively). The association of level of stress with other demographic variables showed that there was a significant association found between type of family and adolescents stress level (calculated value was more than the tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance).

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The term adolescence comes from the Latin word ‘adolescere’ meaning “to grow” or “to grow to maturity”. The term adolescence has a broader meaning. It includes mental, emotional and social maturity as well as physical maturity. Adolescence period is often difficult for boys and girls to cope up with the situation.

 

The main reasons are, throughout the childhood, their problems were met and solved by parents and teachers. As a result many adolescents are inexperienced in coping with problems alone. Secondly, because adolescents want to feel that they are independent, they demand the right of coping with their own problems, rebuffing attempts on the part of parents and teachers to help them¹.

 

The areas of stress in adolescence are related to body image because of appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, sexuality conflict, scholastic pressure, competitive situations, relationship with parents, sibling and peers, financial problems, career planning, decision making about present and future. Due to inadequate fulfillment of needs and deprivation in various aspects adolescents are vulnerable to different problems and stress².

 

Stress produces a state of physical and mental tension. Yoga developed thousands of years ago, is recognized as a form of mind-body medicine. In yoga, physical postures and breathing exercises improves muscle strength, flexibility, blood circulation and oxygen uptake as well as hormone functions. In addition, the relaxation induced by meditation helps to stabilize the autonomic nervous system with a tendency towards parasympathetic dominance³.

 

Body image changes in adolescents go through rapid and dramatic growth in the physical, emotional and social aspects. Adolescents are extremely concerned with the normalcy of their physical status. Adolescents are concerned with how they appear in the eyes of others and endlessly compare themselves with peers. Erickson describes the major issues of the adolescent’s years as the resolution of the crises of personal identity. Personal identity is partly a product of past experiences and a reflection of the adolescent’s ability to become comfortable with a rapidly changing body, to develop relationships with the opposite sex, to gain independence from parents, and to define educational and occupational goals. All adolescents may exhibit some role of confusion as they develop an identity⁴.

 

According to Lazarus and Folk man “stress as a particular relationship between the person and environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her well-being”⁵. Various techniques are there to control and manage adolescent stress like health education, providing practical suggestion, various relaxation techniques and yoga techniques. Yogic breathing or pranayama is one of the simplest yoga techniques reducing feeling of stress, in which the lung capacity is the highest and the muscle tension is lowest⁶. Pranayama is the simplest technique and easy to practice and more effective technique for adolescent group to reduce stress.

 

Statement of the problem:

“Effectiveness of Pranayama for reducing stress among adolescents (12-17 years) of selected high schools at Mangalore”.

 

Objectives of the study:

1.     Determine the level of stress among adolescents as measured by stress rating scale.

2.     Evaluate the effectiveness of pranayama for reducing stress among adolescents.

3.     Find an association of level of stress with demographic variables.

 

Hypothesis:

H₁:   The mean pre-test stress score is significantly higher than the mean post-test score in the experimental group.

H₂:   There is significant difference between the mean stress score of experimental group and control group after pranayama.

H₃:   The mean post-test stress score of adolescents in the experimental group in different areas of stress like biophysical, psychological and social changes are significantly lower than their mean pre-test stress score.

H₄: There is significant association of pre-test stress scores with selected demographic variables.

 

METHODOLOGY:

A Quantitative approach, experimental study with pre-test post- test control group design was chosen for the study. The study was conducted in selected high school of Mangalore, Karnataka, India. 60 adolescents in the age group of 12-17 years with moderate to severe stress were selected using non probability convenience sampling technique. An Adolescents stress rating scale (5 Point scale with 41 items) was used to assess the severity of stress among adolescent.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample according to demographic characteristics

	Demographic variables	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
1             2       3     4	Age in years 12 13 14 15 16 17 Class studying 8th 9th 10th Sex Male Female Religion Hindu Christian Muslim	4 14 20 16 4 2   18 19 23   31 29   26 24 10	6.7 23.3 33.3 26.7 6.7 3.3   30 31.7 38.3   51.7 48.3   43.3 40 16.7
5     6         7	Type of family Nuclear Joint Birth order First Second Third Fourth Monthly income of the family in Rs. 5001-10000 10001-15000 15001-20000 >20001	32 28   29 28 2 1     31 16 11 2	53.3 46.7   48.3 46.7 3.3 1.7     51.7 26.7 18.3 3.3

 

Table2: Frequency and percentage distribution of level of stress among adolescents. N=198

Level of stress	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Mild Moderate Severe	107 83 8	54 42 4

 

Fig. 1: Pie diagram showing the distribution of sample according to the level o stress

 

Table 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample according to the level of stress in the experimental and control group

Level of stress	Pre-test				Post-test
	Experimental group		Control group		Experimental group		Control group
	f	%	F	%	f	%	f	%
Mild stress	-	-	-	-	7	23.3	-	-
Moderate stress	27	90	28	93.3	23	76.7	28	93.3
Severe stress	3	10	2	6.7	-	-	2	6.7

 

Fig. 5: Bar diagram showing the pre-test and post-test level of stress in experimental group.

 

Fig. 6: Bar diagram showing the pre-test and post-test level of stress in the control group

 

Table 4: Range, mean, median and standard deviation of pre-test and post-test stress scores of experimental and control group

Group		Range of score	Mean	Median	Standard deviation
Experimental group	Pre-test Post-test	55-122 38-101	78.31 61.07	76 59	17.93 16.57
Control group	Pre-test Post-test	55-115 55-110	74.37 73.67	65 67	17.43 16.93

 

Table 5: Frequency, percentage and cumulative frequency distribution of stress scores before and after pranayama in the experimental group

	Pre-test				Post-test
Range (%)	f	%	c f	c f %	f	%	cf	cf %
30-40	-	-	-	-	2	6.67	2	6.67
40-50	-	-	-	-	4	13.34	6	20.01
50-60	4	13.34	4	13.34	10	33.33	16	53.34
60-70	7	23.33	11	36.67	7	23.33	23	76.67
70-80	5	16.67	16	53.34	3	10	26	86.67
80-90	7	23.33	23	76.67	1	3.33	27	90
90-100	3	10.00	26	86.67	2	6.67	29	96.67
100-110	1	3.33	27	90	1	3.33	30	100
110-120	2	6.67	29	96.67	-	-	-	-
120-130	1	3.33	30	100	-	-	-	-

 

Table 6: Frequency, percentage and cumulative frequency distribution of stress scores after pranayama in the experimental and control group

Range	Experimental group				Control group
	f	%	cf	%	f	%	cf	%
30-40	2	6.67	2	6.67	-	-	-	-
40-50	4	13.34	6	20.01	-	-	-	-
50-60	10	33.33	16	53.34	6	20	6	20
60-70	7	23.33	23	76.67	10	33.33	16	53.33
70-80	3	10	26	86.67	4	13.33	20	66.67
80-90	1	3.33	27	90	5	16.67	25	83.33
90-100	2	6.67	29	96.67	2	6.67	27	90
100-110	1	3.33	30	100	1	3.33	28	93.33
110-120	-	-	-	-	2	6.67	30	100
120-130	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

 

Table 7: Mean, SD, Mean difference and ‘t’ value of pre-test and post-test stress scores in experimental group. N= 30

Test	Mean score (`x )	SD	mean difference	‘t’ Value
Pre-test Post-test	78.31 (`x1) 61.07 (`x2)	17.93 16.57	17.24	13.225*

 

Table 8: Mean, SD, Mean difference and ‘t’ value of post-test stress scores in experimental and control group

Group	Mean score (`x )	SD	Mean difference	‘t’ value
Experimental Group	61.07 (`x1)	16.57	12.60	2.914*
Control group	73.67 (`x2)	16.93

t- 58, p< 0.05 * significant

 

Table 9: Area wise range of score, mean, mean %, standard deviation and ‘t’ value of pre-test and post-test stress scores in experimental group.

Stress manifestation	Pre- test				Post- test				‘t’ value
	Range of score	Mean	Mean %	SD	Range of score	Mean	Mean %	SD
Biophysiological manifestation   Psychological manifestation   Social manifestation	15-45     11-35     20-43	24.70     21.53     32.07	38.6     53.8     53.4	8.07     5.86     6.57	10-40     09-27     16-36	18.47     17.33     225.27	35     48.8     49.2	7.74     5.26     5.45	9.342*     8.017*     10.678*

 

Table 10: Association of level of stress with demographic variables

Demographic characteristics	df	c2	P-value	Inference
Age of adolescents	1	0.482	p>0.05	NS
Class	1	0.674	P>0.05	NS
Sex	1	0.601	P>0.05	NS
Religion	1	1.923	p>0.05	NS
Type of Family	1	38.57	P<0.05	S
Birth order	1	2.432	P>0.05	NS
Monthly Income	1	0.267	p>0.05	NS

 

CONCLUSION:

Adolescence or teenage is marked by great emotional changes in boys and girls. Maturity of thought and experience is lacking, and selfless love is the most predominant feature of an adolescent. Apart from emotional and psychological independence, he/she deals with the ongoing physical and sexual changes. The future productivity of any nation is fully dependent on the adolescents. Hence it is essential that healthy development of adolescents need to be carried out in a positive manner.

 

The health of the adolescents of a nation is an important marker of the health and positive energy of the nation. By ensuring the health of the adolescent of India, the growth of India from a developing nation to a developed one can be envisaged_.

 

Now a days most of the Adolescents experience stress which affect their academic performance indirectly. As nurses we have an important role in identifying stress among adolescents and teach those finding alternatives for reducing stress. Such alternatives will help the students to develop a capacity to control and manage their stress. Hence the investigator should feel the need to evaluate the effectiveness of pranayama for reducing stress among adolescent group.

 

REFERENCE:

1.      Elizabeth BH. Developmental psychology, A life span approach. 5^th ed. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill publication company Ltd; 2003.

2.      Datta P. Pediatric Nursing.1^st ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (p) Ltd; 2007.

3.      Parshad O. Role of Yoga in stress management, Western Indian medical Journal 2004 June; 53(3):191-4

4.      Melvin L, William, Wilms. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-A Comprehensive Textbook. 2^nd ed. Philadelphia: Melvin Lewis Publishers; 1996.

5.      Mary CT. Psychiatric Nursing. 1^st ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Publishers; 2005.

6.      Potter AP, Perry GA. Fundamentals of Nursing. 6^th ed. S.L. Louis Missouri: Mosby Publishers; 2005.

 

 

Received on 10.06.2020          Modified on 24.07.2020

Accepted on 01.09.2020        © AandV Publications all right reserved