Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Parental Anxiety

The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Anxiety Among Parents of Children With Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation exercises on anxiety levels among parents who are the primary caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer and receiving inpatient treatment. A total of 112 parents will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Parents in the intervention group will participate in researcher-led progressive muscle relaxation sessions. Anxiety will be assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I). The study will be conducted at the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic of Akdeniz University Hospital in Antalya, Türkiye.

Parents of children diagnosed with cancer may experience substantial anxiety throughout their child's diagnosis and treatment. Progressive muscle relaxation is a nonpharmacological technique involving the systematic tensing and relaxing of major muscle groups combined with deep breathing. Eligible parents will be randomly allocated in equal numbers to the intervention or control group using a computer-generated randomization sequence. The intervention will be delivered individually in a private clinical education room. Participants will progressively tense and relax the muscles of the face, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, legs, and feet. Each muscle group will be tensed for 5 seconds and relaxed for 10 seconds while participants practice deep breathing and visualize a wave of relaxation throughout the body. Anxiety will be assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I), and changes in anxiety scores will be compared between the groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being the parent and primary caregiver of a child diagnosed with cancer
• The child having been diagnosed with cancer within the previous 12 months
• The child currently receiving inpatient treatment in the study clinic
• Being able to communicate without hearing or speech-related barriers
• Being able to understand and answer the study questions
• Providing written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not meeting any of the inclusion criteria
• Withdrawing consent at any time