title: Relaxation: mapping an uncharted world.
abstract: Nine hundred and forty practitioners of massage, abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), yoga stretching, breathing, imagery meditation, and various combination treatments described their technique experiences on an 82-item wordlist. Factor analysis yielded 10 interpretable relaxation categories: Joyful Affects and Appraisals (Joyful), Distant, Calm, Aware, Prayerful, Accepted, Untroubled, Limp, Silent, and Mystery The relaxation response and cognitive/somatic specificity models predict Calm and Limp, which account for only 5.5% of the variance of relaxation experience. Unlike much of previous relaxation research, we found important technique differences. PMR and massage are associated with Distant and Limp; yoga stretching, breathing, and meditation with Aware; meditation with Prayerful and all techniques except PMR with Joyful. Results are consistent with cognitive-behavioral relaxation theory and have implications for relaxation theory, treatment, training, assessment, and research. We close with a revised model of relaxation that posits three global dimensions; tension-relief, passive disengagement, and passive engagement.
authors.affiliation: Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amutio
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Aria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D008297:Male; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D014936:Word Association Tests