Effect of relaxation with guided imagery on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in primiparas.

A pretest-posttest experimental design with a convenience sample of 60 subjects was used to examine the effects of a relaxation with guided imagery protocol on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in primiparas during the first 4 weeks of the postpartum period. The results showed that the experimental group had less anxiety and depression and greater self-esteem than did the control group at the end of the period. Positive correlations were obtained between anxiety and depression; negative correlations between self-esteem and anxiety and depression. All findings were significant at the .05 level.