Anxiolytic effect of NSR meditation on emotions of university students

INTERVENTION: E02.190.525.374 F04.711.513.703 The volunteers are taken to the psychophysiological monitoring room of the Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology of the UFS (LAFICO), which has all the apparatus and comfort necessary to perform this experiment and, after signing the informed consent form, are submitted to psychological assessments ( STAI ‐ part II, HADS and SPIN). Subsequently, they will be randomly assigned to the three experimental groups: 1) NSR Meditation (n = 24); 2) Non‐meditative relaxation (n = 24); 3) Waiting‐list (n = 24). Individuals belonging to groups 1 and 2 are individually instructed to practice a meditation session (group 1) or non‐meditative relaxation (group 2), and immediately before (phase I) and immediately after (phase II) this (STAI ‐ part I) and 30 seconds of physiological evaluations. These records are made with the volunteers sitting comfortably and with their eyes open. At the end of this session, a manual containing instructions from the NSR meditation technique is given to group 1 and, for group 2, a manual containing instructions from the non‐meditative relaxation technique. Volunteers in groups 1 and 2 have to perform at home, respectively, meditation sessions or non‐meditative relaxation, daily, for four weeks, as instructed in the manual. Each week, volunteers should self‐assess through HADS and SPIN. In addition, after the last week, the STAI ‐ part II should also be self‐applied. At the last session, which is to be held at LAFICO, the volunteers are again submitted to psychological evaluation (STAI ‐ part I) and 30 seconds of physiological evaluations immediately before (phase I) and immediately after (phase II) the meditation session Or non‐meditative relaxation. On the other hand, individuals belonging to group 3 do not perform meditation or non‐meditative relaxation sessions, they are only submitted to the psychological evaluation (STAI ‐ part I) and 30 seconds of physiological evaluations. They are then informed that they must wait for the invest CONDITION: Anxiety Phobic disorders (social phobia) Mental, behavioural disorders Pathological conditions, signs and symptoms ; F00‐F99 ; C23 ; F01.470.132 ; F03.080.725 F00‐F99 F01.470.132 F03.080.725 PRIMARY OUTCOME: Weekly evaluation of social anxiety symptoms. Measured by social phobia inventory (SPIN). In data collection, It is expected that the practice of NSR meditation presents better effects than the non‐meditative technique and that the waiting list group INCLUSION CRITERIA: University students of both sexes, aged between 18 and 30 years who do not present pathological conditions that could interfere with the results, such as neurological, metabolic and psychiatric disorders; who did not use chronic medication; who did not present pre‐menstrual complaints; and who had no previous experience with meditation or relaxation techniques. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Assessment of state anxiety levels. Measured by part I of the trait‐state anxiety inventory and recording physiological parameters (skin conductance, temperature of extremity, heart rate, and gastrocnemius muscle electromyogram)before and after fisrt and last sessions; and in situations of the social anxiety induction test. In data collection, It is expected that the practice of NSR meditation presents better effects than the non‐meditative technique and that the waiting list group Assessment of trait anxiety levels. Measured by part II of the trait‐state anxiety inventory before and after four weeks. In data collection, It is expected that the practice of NSR meditation presents better effects than the non‐meditative technique and that the waiting list group Weekly evaluation of the general anxiety symptoms. Measured by the hospital anxiety and depression scale. In data collection, It is expected that the practice of NSR meditation presents better effects than the non‐meditative technique and that the waiting list group.