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Preliminary study: Psychological effects of muscle relaxation on Juvenile delinquents

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to test our hypothesis that muscle relaxation is effective on the psychological well-being of juvenile delinquents. Subjects were 16 juvenile delinquents who had entered a reform school. Subjects were divided into two groups. The muscle relaxation group received muscle relaxation therapy once a week for a total of 4 times. The control group spent an ordinary daily life in the reformatory. Psychological questionnaires used were the Rosenzweig Picture Frustration Study (P-F study), the Psychological Stress Response Scale (PSRS), and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). There was a significant Group × Time interaction of the Group Conformity Rating (GCR) of the P-F study (F [1,14] =10.1, P=0.007). There were no significant interactions in the other psychological subscales.

Thus, muscle relaxation therapy may improve frustration tolerance among juvenile delinquents.

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Correspondence to Naoki Nakaya.

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Nakaya, N., Kumano, H., Minoda, K. et al. Preliminary study: Psychological effects of muscle relaxation on Juvenile delinquents. Int. J. Behav. Med. 11, 176–180 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1103_6

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