The Effects of Aromatherapy and Hand Massage on Anxiety, Sleep, and Depression in the Female Aged at Residential Facilities

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study adopted the non-equivalent control group pre-posttest design in order to examine the effects of aromatherapy and hand massage on anxiety, sleep, and depression in the female aged at residential facilities. METHODS: This study was executed with the female aged at two residential facilities divided into an experimental group (n=35) and a control group (n=37). Data were collected by checking changes in the anxiety, sleep, and depression of the subjects who had received aromatherapy and hand massage ten times for two weeks. The data were analyzed using Chi-square test and ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance). RESULTS: The condition of anxiety and depression of the experimental group who had received aromatherapy and hand massage was significantly lower than that of the control group. Also, the condition of sleep of experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: The aromatherapy and hand massage program had a positive effect on institutionalized elders' anxiety, sleep, and depression pattern.