MASSAGE AND RELAXATION THERAPIES EFFECTS ON DEPRESSED ADOLESCENT MOTHERS

Thirty-two depressed adolescent mothers received ten 30-minute session s of massage therapy or relaxation therapy over a five-week period. Su bjects were randomly assigned to each group. Although both groups repo rted lower anxiety following their first and last therapy sessions, on ly the massage therapy group showed behavioral and stress hormone chan ges including a decrease in anxious behavior, pulse, and salivary cort isol levels. A decrease in urine cortisol levels suggested lower stres s following the five-week period for the massage therapy group.