Date of Award
8-1986
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua
Second Advisor
Dr. Jack Michael
Third Advisor
Dr. Paul Montjoy
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Cue controlled relaxation (CCR) training was compared to simple instructions to relax and control blood pressure on the basis of their effects on cardiovascular reactivity to role played social stressors. The CCR intervention consisted of training subjects to say a cue word ("calm") that had been previously paired with muscular relaxation responses, during presentation of stressors. The instructions intervention was associated with significant reductions in blood pressure reactivity, regardless of whether this condition preceded or followed the CCR condition. Factors that may relate to the relative ineffectiveness of CCR are discussed, as well as those that may have been responsible for the effectiveness of instructions. This study lends support to previous research suggesting that cardiovascular reactivity can be attenuated without specific behavioral, and demonstrates a need in future research on behavioral interventions for cardiovascular reactivity to separate the effects of instructions alone from effects of specific treatments involving instructions.
Recommended Citation
Fettes, Patricia A., "The Effects of Instructions and Cue Controlled Relaxation Training on Cardiovascular Reactivity to Social Stressors" (1986). Masters Theses. 1291.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1291