A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GUIDED IMAGERY ON STRESS AMONG SENIOR CITIZENS RESIDING AT SELECTED OLD AGE HOME OF MEHSANA CITY

Author Name:

Volume/Issue: 06/09

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2026-12739321/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. M.Sc. Nursing, Joitiba college of Nursing, Bhandu, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
2. Professor and HOD Psychiatric, Joitiba college of Nursing, Bhandu, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
3. PhD Guide, Associate dean (HNGU, Patan), Principal, Joitiba college of Nursing, Bhandu, Mehsana, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Stress is highly prevalent among senior citizens, particularly those in old age homes, due to isolation, illness, and dependency. Persistent stress affects both mental and physical health. Guided imagery is a simple, safe, and cost-effective relaxation technique that reduces stress by calming the sympathetic nervous system. This study was conducted to evaluate its effectiveness among senior citizens in a selected old age home at Mehsana. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the level of stress among senior citizens residing at selected old age home of Mehsana. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery on stress among senior citizens residing at selected old age home of Mehsana. 3. To find out the association between pretest level of stress among senior citizens with their selected demographic variables. PARTICIPANTS: 60 senior citizens residing at selected old age home of Mehsana city were selected using non probability purposive sampling technique. INTERVENTION: Guided imagery is a brief, structured relaxation technique using verbal cues to evoke soothing mental images. Sessions (10–20 minutes) support stress reduction and emotional regulation. Content is culturally tailored for geriatric and psychiatric populations to ensure clarity and therapeutic impact. TOOLS: Data were collected using a structured demographic proforma to obtain background information of the participants, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a standardized tool widely used to measure the level of stress. RESULT: Guided imagery significantly reduced stress among elderly participants, with mean scores declining from 23.13 (pre-test) to 16.07 (post-test; t = 15.34, p < 0.05). High stress prevalence dropped from 36.67% to 5%, indicating marked emotional improvement. Moderate stress levels increased, reflecting a shift toward healthier coping. Significant associations were observed with age, marital status, and duration of stay, underscoring contextual influences on intervention outcomes.

Key words: Guided imagery, Stress, Senior citizens, old age home, Perceived Stress Scale, Nursing intervention