EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION AND GUIDED IMAGERY ON STRESS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG ELDERLY IN SELECTED OLD AGE HOMES AT KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

Abstract Depression is one of the most common psychological conditions during the normal course of life with so much of losses and disappointments. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defines late-life depression as depressive symptoms in adults older than 65 years of age. They have also viewed that depression in later life has serious consequences including increased health costs, distress to caregivers, amplified disabilities, increased morbidity, and suicide.The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery on stress, depression, and anxiety among the elderly in selected old age homes in Kanyakumari district.The conceptual framework of the study was based on Roy’s adaptation model. The research approach used was quantitative and the research design was a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group. The dependent variables were stress, anxiety, and depression associated with the elderly and the independent variables were progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery.The study was conducted in two selected old-age homes. A total of two hundred elderly (100 for each Group I and Group I) were chosen for this study.Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on Demographic variables and the Daily Record of Symptoms scale. Data analysis showed that after the intervention the mean knowledge score increased from 49.8±8.4to 78.8±8.5. Regarding the manifestations associated with PMS in post-test I and II, no symptoms were seen among 70.6% and 73.6% of subjects, respectively, and none had moderateor severe symptoms in the intervention group. However, in the control group, 80.45 subjects had mild, 18.4% had moderate and 0.6% had severe symptoms. It can be concluded that the lifestyle modification technique is one of the easy, cost-effective, and simple non-pharmacological interventions to solve the problems of subjects with PMS.