title: Effects of aromatherapy massage on anxiety and self-esteem in korean elderly women: a pilot study.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of aromatherapy massage on the anxiety and self-esteem experienced by Korean elderly women. A quasi-experimental, control group, pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects comprised 36 elderly females: 16 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. Aromatherapy massage using lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and lemon was given to the experimental group only. Each massage session lasted 20 min, and was performed 3 times per week for two 3-week periods with an intervening 1-week break. The intervention produced significant differences in the anxiety and self-esteem and no significant differences in blood pressure or pulse rate between the two groups. These results suggest that aromatherapy massage exerts positive effects on anxiety and self-esteem. However, more objective, clinical measures should be applied in a future study with a randomized placebo-controlled design.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Nursing Science, College of Nursing Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kook-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.forename: Sun-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Keum-Soon
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myeong Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008405:Massage / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome