Effect of massage therapy on labor progress and plasma levels of cortisol in the active stage of first labor

Anxiety and stress during labor increase plasma level of cortisol hormone and slow down the progress of delivery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of massage therapy on the progress of labor and plasma level of cortisol in nulliparous women in labor. In this experimental study, 30 subjects were selected voluntarily among nulliparous women aged 20 to 30 years in active labor phase. They, then, divided into two equal experimental and control groups randomly. The experimental group in the active phase [dilated 3-4 cm] to transitional phase [dilated 8-10 cm] received massage therapy. The massage was done for 10 minutes with 10 minutes rest in between sets. Meanwhile, control group received no intervention. Next, labor duration and plasma level of cortisol hormone were evaluated by drawing blood of parturient women. Results were analyzed using independent t-test and paired t-test. The mean age of control and experimental groups were, 23.9 +/- 30 and 23.6 +/- 4.0 years, respectively. In terms of educational level, 10% in both groups were under diploma, 23.3% and 24.3% of subjects in control and experimental groups, in turn, had diploma, and 16.7% and 15.7% in control and experimental groups possessed bachelor degree, respectively. The results from statistical analysis showed that labor duration and level of cortisol hormone had significant reduction in experimental group than control group [p

[Normalizing health values in the socialization process]

The values are the frameworks to legitimize human behaviors and to conceptualize socio-cultural phenomena. Normalizing human behavior values are formed through three main bases including cognitive, motivate, and arbitrary ones. Therefore, the normative values would shape through cognitive, motivate, and arbitrary foundations. Behavior formation and stabilization happen in the process of socialization. The socialization is the complex learning process based on reciprocal interactions through which individual behavior is moderated so as to meet the group expectations. In other words, the socialization changes the behavior values to normative behavior. Thus, the health behaviors values can be normalized through socialization.