Effects of relaxation on anxiety in primary caregivers of chronically ill children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of self-applied breathing and guided imagery relaxation techniques, separately and in combination, and a reinforcement tool on primary caregivers (PCGs) coping with anxiety when caring for a chronically ill child. METHOD: Twenty PCGs, aged 25-57, of chronically ill children were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The State Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) was used to measure state anxiety across three test administrations. FINDINGS: While there were no statistically significant changes in state anxiety, behavioral evaluations indicated that PCGs used both the self-applied relaxation techniques and the reinforcement tool more than twice daily. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxation techniques may be useful for those people caring for chronically ill children.