Effectiveness of Guided Imagery on Stress Depression and Anxiety among Geriatrics at selected Old Age Homes

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineTITLE OF THE STUDY: Effectiveness of guided imagery on stress, depression and anxiety among geriatrics in old age homes. newline The aim of the study to evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery on stress, depression anxiety and salivary cortisol among geriatrics. newlineMethod: A true experimental design was conducted in selected six Old age homes in Kancheepuram district. Elderly were screened for stress. Elderly who were diagnosed to have mild and moderate stress were selected as samples. Estimated sample size was 100 in each group. The instruments used were older adult perceived stress scale, Geriatric depression scale and geriatric anxiety scale. Analysis of human cortisol level in saliva was performed by using the technique of ELISA method (N=40). Guided imagery intervention has two parts I- Floating on the clouds and Part II- walking on the beach were implemented. First two weeks (4 sessions) teaching was imparted for 45 minutes/ session. Intervention was practiced twice a day morning and evening. Total number of weeks 24, total number of session 48 was conducted. newlineResults: There was a significant difference in stress, depression and anxiety in the post test compared with the pre test in the study group at Plt0.001. The effect size was very large in stress (cohen d =1.00), depression (d= 0.99), anxiety (d=0.96) and salivary cortisol (d= 0.98) reflects there was a reduction on stress, depression, anxiety and salivary cortisol after receiving the treatment. There was a positive correlation between stress, depression and anxiety at p level lt0.001 and positive correlation between stress level and the salivary cortisol at p level lt 0.05. newlineConclusion: The findings demonstrated significant effects on the Guided Imagery intervention on perceived stress. It is imperative that effective, low cost and easy to use intervention be available to the population. newline newline