The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises by Nursing Students Before Clinical Practice

The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises Applied to First Year Nursing Students Before Clinical Practice on Perceived Stress, Psychological Resilience and Meaning of Life

Aim: The investigators conducted this randomized controlled study to determine the effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises practiced by first year nursing students before clinical practice on their perceptions of stress, psychological resilience and meaning of life.

Background: Progressive Relaxation Exercises has a positive effect on the person's mental/general health, life satisfaction and psychological well-being and enables the person to cope with stress.

Design: In this experimental randomized and controlled study including a control group, we administered a pre-test, post-test one and post-test two to the participating students.

Methods: The investigators are planning the study with 40 first year nursing students in the intervention group, and 40 first year nursing students in the control group. The students in the intervention group took part in eight sessions of Progressive Relaxation Exercises for four weeks, twice a week. We used the Student Introduction Form, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale and Meaning and Purpose of Life Scale to collect the study data.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Who did not have any diagnosed psychiatric diseases,
• Who had not done Progressive Relaxation Exercises and / or did not have any clinical experience previously were included

Exclusion Criteria:

• Who withdrew from the study at any stage,
• Those who did not participate in the exercise sessions regularly
• Those who used another relaxation method during this period,
• Those who took antidepressants,
• Those who were unwilling to participate in the study,
• Those who lost one of their loved ones in the last 6 months were excluded from the research.