School-Based Intervention: Relaxation and Guided Imagery for Students With Asthma and Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

This school-based study analyzed the impact of RGI on lung functioning (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] and forced expiratory flow 25-75 [FEF25-75]) and by employing a multiple baseline design across 3 high school students with asthma and clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders. The RGI intervention took place for a 20-min period, an average of three times per week, over a 4-week period. At the onset of the intervention, it was found that lung functioning, particularly FEV1 increased in all 3 participants, with effect sizes ranging from —.32 to —2.48. FEF25-75 improved in one of the participants. In addition, a positive impact was also seen in the lowering of anxiety scores across all 3 participants, with effect sizes ranging from .12 to 1.69.