EVALUATION OF MINDFULNESS AND AROMATHERAPY FOR STRESS REDUCTION IN PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS

Resumo

Stress is a common problem among college students, and the effectiveness of coping strategies is debated. This study compared the practice of mindfulness alone or conjugated to aromatherapy in the perception of stress and physiological signs of students of psychology. Thirty volunteer students participated in random, simple and crossed tests, with half of the sample in each protocol: G0 (baseline)/G1 (mindfulness) followed by G2 (mindfulness and aromatherapy with lavender oil) or G3 (mindfulness and aromatherapy with copaiba oil). After a single session of 10 min of each modality, physiological and sensory data were collected and analyzed by descriptive or inferential statistics, considering P<0.05. There was only a reduction in mean arterial pressure for G3 in comparison to G0, without differences between groups for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation or temperature. Relaxation was evident for G2 and G3 compared to G1, which also improved intragroup performance. G2 demonstrated greater intensity and familiarity with odor while G3 had greater pleasantness but no differences with G2. There was greater expression of tranquility and well-being after all protocols, with reduced emotions compared to G1 and greater diversity in G2, such as longing and light euphoria. Mindfulness combined with aromatherapy suggests being more beneficial to mitigate stressful signs and symptoms, and copaiba oil emerges as a promising aroma for more immediate effects, as well as lavender. Long-term studies are necessary to deepen preliminary outcomes.

Keywords: Stress. Psychological. Aromatherapy. Mindfulness. Lavandula. Copaifera.