The quieting response (QR): a modality for reduction of psychophysiologic stress in nursing students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 5-week stress management program for 40 junior baccalaureate nursing students. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used. The stress management group included training sessions using cognitive modification techniques and Stroebel's Quieting Response (QR) augmented with biofeedback techniques for self-relaxation. A significant reduction of state anxiety (P < .001) was reported on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by the experimental groups, while the state anxiety of the control groups remained relatively unchanged. There were no significant changes in trait anxiety scores. Urinary potassium excretion was measured as an index of the adrenal stress response. Findings revealed no statistically significant correlation between potassium excretion and scores on the STAI. These results support the benefits of integrating a stress management program into curricula for nursing students.