Effects of stone spa (Ganban-yoku) on psychological states.
This uncontrolled intervention study explored the effects of stone spa use on the psychological states of women. Sixty-eight female volunteers (mean age 37.5 years (standard deviation 14.8)) recruited at a women-only stone spa facility participated in the study. They completed the short-form Profile of Moods States (POMS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after stone spa use in order to determine changes in mood and anxiety states. Six factors relating to mood were measured using the POMS: Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, Anger-Hostility, Vigor, Fatigue, and Confusion. The two anxiety concepts of state anxiety and trait anxiety were also measured. The scores for Tension-Anxiety and Anger-Hostility and both anxiety measures were improved statistically after stone spa use. Stone spa use shows considerable promise for improving mood and reducing anxiety. Since this study was a descriptive, prospective and uncontrolled intervention study, further investigation of these promising findings is warranted.
Hayasaka
Shinya
S
Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashiku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. hayasaka@hama-med.ac.jp
Tsutsumi
Akihito
A
Noda
Tatsuya
T
Murata
Chiyoe
C
Ojima
Toshiyuki
T
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001494:Baths / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006294:Health Resorts; D045482:Hot Springs; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult