The effects of kinesio taping and progressive muscle relaxation technique on stress, depression and sleep quality in university students having premenstrual syndrome; A randomized controlled study

Chronic and long-term effects of premenstrual syndrome are experienced by most women. The side effects of the pharmacological methods applied in this respect have increased the tendency of women to non-pharmacological methods. This research is exceptional in terms of studying one of the non-pharmacological techniques applied for the first time in nursing field and dealing with multiple parameters. In the study, the effects of Kinesio taping and progressive muscle relaxation technique on stress, depression and sleep quality in university students having premenstrual syndrome was investigated by employing the pretest-posttest control group pattern. The universe of the study consisted of 360 female second and third-year students of 13 different faculties of Ankara University in the fall and spring semester of the 2017-2018 academic year. A total of 180 students selected from each faculty by using the stratified sampling method were included in the sampling of the study. The applications were coordinated twice a week for 8 weeks as home and dormitory visits to the students. The data of the study were collected with a Data Collection Form, the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The data collection tools were administered to the students before and immediately after the application of kinesio tape and the progressive muscle relaxation technique and one month after the completion of the applications. The research data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, chi-square, one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni Post-Hoc test and Pearson correlation in repetitive measurements. In the study, premenstrual syndrome severity, symptoms, and depression levels were found to decrease and sleep quality to improve in the students with premenstrual syndrome in each of the three application groups (kinesio taping, progressive relaxation, application of kinesio taping and progressive relaxation together) (p<0.05). As a result, in coping with premenstrual syndrome, kinesio taping and progressive muscle relaxation technique are reliable and effective methods for reducing premenstrual symptom severity and depression level and improving sleep quality. The results of the study that applying kinesio taping and progressive muscle relaxation technique reduce the severity of premenstrual symptoms, lessen depression level, and improve the sleep quality in women having premenstrual syndrome will contribute to the nursing field. These approaches are recommended to be used as a safe and non-pharmacological treatment method. Keywords: Premenstrual Syndrome, Kinesio Taping, Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique, Nursing, Randomized Controlled Study