The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2020 Mar;12(1):188-211. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12179. Epub 2019 Oct 1.
Stress is often associated with the intake of energy-dense palatable foods. This trial examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week worksite-based relaxation intervention to address psychological stress and unhealthy food intake.
Thirty-six men and women were exposed to an acute stressor, while physiological and psychological responses were assessed, prior to being offered a test meal. Participants were then randomised to a relaxation intervention (RELAX; face-to-face classes and daily home practice of progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness meditation), or a wait-list control (CON). All measures were repeated after the intervention.
Intervention compliance was high (80% ± 19% face-to-face; 79% ± 18% home practice), and each session acutely reduced perceived stress (p < .001) and increased relaxation (p < .001). After 8 weeks, trait mindfulness was increased (p = .025), along with reduced tension (p = .013) and increased relaxation (p < .05) post-acute stressor in the intervention group. There was no effect of the intervention on palatable eating, cravings, or energy intake at a laboratory test meal, with small associated effect sizes (d = 0.01-0.3).
The program studied here is feasible and sessions transiently reduce perceived stress and improve mindfulness; however, the program may not influence the physiological response to an acute stressor or appetite and eating variables.
压力通常与摄入高能量美味食物有关。本试验研究了一种基于工作场所的 8 周放松干预措施的可行性和初步效果，以解决心理压力和不健康的食物摄入问题。
36 名男性和女性在经历急性应激源之前，评估了他们的生理和心理反应，然后提供了一份测试餐。参与者随后被随机分配到放松干预组（RELAX；面对面课程和每天在家练习渐进性肌肉放松和正念冥想）或等待名单对照组（CON）。干预后重复所有测量。
干预的依从性很高（80%±19%面对面；79%±18%在家练习），每次干预都能显著降低感知压力（p<0.001）并增加放松感（p<0.001）。8 周后，特质正念显著增加（p=0.025），急性应激源后紧张感降低（p=0.013）和放松感增加（p<0.05）。干预对实验室测试餐中的美味食物摄入、食欲和能量摄入没有影响，相关效应大小较小（d=0.01-0.3）。
本研究中所研究的方案是可行的，且课程可以短暂降低感知压力和提高正念水平；然而，该方案可能不会影响急性应激源或食欲和进食变量的生理反应。
