Date of Award
5-2001
Degree Type
Report
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair(s)
Gretchen Gimpel
Committee
Gretchen Gimpel
Committee
Kevin Masters
Committee
Edward Heath
Abstract
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) techniques have been used since the early
twentieth century as a means of inducing relaxation and decreasing muscle tension.
However, only in the last twenty five years have systematic studies of these techniques to
treat children and adolescents appeared with any regularity in the research literature.
The last major review of the literature was published in 1989. The purpose of this
paper was to examine studies published since the last review of the literature. A special
emphasis was placed on studies set in schools or that were relevant to mental health
professionals in those settings. The bulk of this paper was devoted to examining how
PMR has been used in the last decade to treat problems and disorders such as: anxiety,
depression, asthma, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, and tourette syndrome. It was found that PMR was most effective in
reducing somatic symptoms of anxiety and headache symptomatology but that more
research must be conducted before the overall efficacy of PMR with childhood
populations can be determined. This paper concludes with a discussion of how the current
findings can be used by school-based mental health practitioners.
Recommended Citation
Laypath, Christopher, "A Review of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Interventions used with School-Aged Children and Adolescents" (2001). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023. 981.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/981
Included in
Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .