|
Effect of Foot Reflexology on the Happiness and Academic Stress of Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
|
Alehe Seyyed Rasooli    , Fatemeh Parsa Mobaraki , Faranak Jabbarzadeh Tabrizi , Parvin Sarbakhsh , Sakineh Goljaryan , Samaneh Alizadeh * |
| Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , s.alizadeh@tbzmed.ac.ir |
|
|
Abstract: (14 Views) |
Background and Aim: Some nursing students might experience high level of stress and lower levels of happiness. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of foot reflexology on the happiness and academic stress of female Nursing student resident in dormitory.
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 99 undergraduate nursing students studying at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, located in Tabriz, northwestern Iran. The students were subsequently divided into three groups of reflexology, sham, and control. The intervention group received foot reflexology for four weeks. The sham group received nonspecific foot massage without applying pressure on standard reflex points with the same condition and duration as the intervention group. No intervention was performed for the control group. Normality of data was checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Intergroup comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc correction (p =.0167).
Results: The results indicated a significant difference between the three groups in terms of the level of stress and happiness after the intervention (p < .05). However, result of Bonferroni correction test showed that, only the difference between the reflexology and control groups remained significant for both variables (p < .0167). The reflexology group showed a mean increase in happiness by 8.73 points (95% CI: 4.12-13.34) and a mean reduction in stress by 10.25 points (95% CI: 5.67-14.83) compared to baseline. Effect sizes were moderate (Cohen's d = .62 for happiness; η² = .09 for stress).
Conclusions: Foot reflexology may be effective in reducing stress levels and increasing happiness among female nursing students in similar dormitory settings. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings in male students and to control for attention effects.
|
|
| Keywords: Happiness, stress, nursing student, reflexology. |
|
|
Full-Text [PDF 439 kb]
(4 Downloads)
|
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/10/5 | Accepted: 2024/06/21 | Published: 2024/06/21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Send email to the article author |
|
|
|
| Add your comments about this article |
|
|
|
