Abstract
Two sessions of relaxation instructions were administered under high and low expectancy conditions. Fifty-four college students scoring high on a self-report measure of anxiety served as subjects. Live and taped abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation instructions and a self-relaxation condition were equally effective in reducing within-session self-report and physiological indices of anxiety. High expectancy instructions led to greater reductions in heart rate than did low expectancy instructions. Factors controlling anxiety reduction during relaxation therapies are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 21-29 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Biofeedback and Self-Regulation |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 1986 |
Keywords
- anxiety
- expectancy effects
- live versus taped relaxation training
- relaxation instructions
- self-relaxation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)